As leaders we all go through life and work holding to past regrets, those disappointments over lost or missed opportunities. We’re sad or repentant over things that we wish we had done differently.
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was an English-born Founding Father of the United States. An inventor and philosopher, he authored Common Sense, a pamphlet that was influential at the start of the American Revolution.
As Jesus began teaching on earth, His words about leadership and leading were shocking. In fact, they were so at odds with religious leaders of the time, they believed Jesus could not possibly be the Savior they were hoping and waiting for.
On the surface the story of Job may seem a cruel game. A faithful man, he suffers greatly, questions God, and receives God’s pointed response. How should we lead when faced with trials and difficulty?
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone at all who has not had some kind of dysfunction in their environment growing up. But the Bible tends to confirm that this is independent of the person he or she will become.
Knowing a person is the first and most important step in leading and influencing them. Isolated individuals make poor leaders, because the objective of leadership is always to grow and develop people.
You’ve seen the memes online urging you to put toxic people out of your life. They’re not for you. They suck your resources and energy. They burden your relationships. But Jesus gives us another approach…
The idea of learning from someone more experienced than you, and then living that out by passing it on to the next generation, is the crux of mentoring. Having a mentor will greatly enhance your life and leadership.