Leadership
Leader by definition means a person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.
When looking up the definition for leader, there is no promise that a leader is good, fair, or effective. However, the leader has a choice to be a great leader. People with poor leadership skills are referred to as a “boss” rather than a leader. Opportunities for stepping into a leadership role can happen anywhere school, work, church, events, the list goes on and on.
As a leader, you are trying to accomplish something with a team of people following closely behind. One person can’t do the job by themselves. It is important for a leader to learn the strengths of the individuals on their team in order to know the role that will best suit them. So many times a unity that is bonded together by responsibility lacks the proper relationship between leader and follower. The responsibility collapses and is not achieved.
Here we will discuss the differences between bad leaders and great leaders.
Bad Leaders vs Great Leaders
Bad Leaders dislike transparency and hold private conversations with individuals on their team, while Great Leaders value open communication.
Bad Leaders micromanage, while Great Leaders know when to delegate responsibilities and trust their team members.
Bad Leaders offer no inspiration and are indifferent about the growth of others, while Great Leaders are inspirational and motivate people to grow and help them along the way.
Bad Leaders are negative and always place blame on their team members, while Great Leaders encourage others despite any mistakes made and are always positive.
Bad Leaders find the faults in others, while Great Leaders see the potential in people.
Bad Leaders dislike change and avoid taking risks, while Great Leaders are open to novel ideas and new points of views.
Bad Leaders exploit people to make themselves benefit the most, while Great Leaders put people in their best positions hence making them perform well.
Bad Leaders believe people can be replaced easily and refuse to value them, while Great Leaders are grateful for their team member’s contributions.
In church, everyone looks for Christians to be innocent and found without blame. In a way there are expectations for Christians to be perfect, but people don’t realize they are seeking the innocence of Christians - not perfection. For Christians to lead others in the life they should be living for the Lord. When a Christian exhibits ungodly traits, it is just apart of them being human, but many people having a hard time understanding that they cannot be the one to determine that individuals walk with God. In the Bible, Jesus calls us to be the salt and light to the world. He called us to be separate from the world to set the example and to demonstrate that living Holy is worth it all.
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
So many times leaders make the mistake of not making enough time for their followers. In this instance it allows for the spirits to devour and take over the mission. The fruit of this appears as - selfishness, pride, avoiding each other, anger, wrath, strife, and mood swings. It all starts with an innocent misunderstanding.
Every where you go you will have a leader to follow. And in some instances you will be a leader yourself. Seek the Lord for the right things to say and do.
“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
In a church setting, people are always looking for failure and imperfections in those around them not realizing that we weren't called to be perfect, we were called to serve the Lord and to praise and worship Him while reaching more souls for His kingdom. As a leader in the church you have such a major responsibility to be a great leader. Daily Prayer is essential to your role as a leader. Struggling to be a great leader may cause others in the church much harm where they feel that they no longer want to serve God or they want to find another church where you won't be there. Granted, they have their own feelings to sort out. However, you can do your best to follow the Lord and say what He tells you to say, or do what He tells you to do.
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
There have been Leaders in my life that have affected me greatly, they have discouraged me and others. Perhaps they don’t know what it takes to be a great leader. They lose sight of what’s important in ministry and it’s unfortunate. As the follower that has been discouraged by a church leader, I can tell others that have had the same experiences
"Don't give up."
Continue to follow the Lord's calling on your life, pray for the people that come against you, and do what you know will please the Lord to the best of your ability.
Strive to be a great leader. You’ll see a shift on followers and the mission. Pray for your Leaders, you'll see a shift in their ministries and in their leadership. God's will be done.
