LEADERSHIP-Taking Responsibility

The start of any leadership is taking responsibility. Blaming others for incidents directly under your control does not excuse you, it only denies you the privilege of growth and shows that you are not ready for leadership.Others had the same obstacles and they overcame, so you are responsible. Take responsibility for your life and your decisions, it is a prerequisite for leadership.

"Who told you that you were naked?" the Lord God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?" The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." [Gen 3:11-12]

And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took...[1Sam 15:20]

Leadership - personal leadership

There is no point leading others if you can't lead yourself. How do you set goals and accomplish them. How disciplined are you with time, food, money and sex. At the end, your actions will always speak out.

Also, who are you submitted to? It will be illogical to ask people to submit to you if are not submitted as well. Beloved, take heed to yourself and develop the leader in you first.

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich. [Gen 14:22-23]

But I discipline my body and bring [it] into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.[1corinthians 9:27]

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.[1Corinthians 11:1]

 Leadership - Capacity development

Positional leadership is the least form of leadership, it is the starting point but you have to move on to inspirational leadership. Your character (virtue) and skills(abilities) are the things that inspire others.

So develop your character and your capacity, your leadership will be greatly enhanced. Leadership failures are basically due to leaders with undeveloped capacities or character defects.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.[2Peter 1:5-7]

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.[1 Timothy 4:12]

Leadership - clear vision

As a leader, your first and paramount responsibility is to set the vision for the group both in the short and long term. Why are you here? What and how do you do your assignment?

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus declared Isaiah 61:1-2 as his vision and when he called his disciples, he told them what they are to do: follow him and be made fishers of men. If Jesus did it, you can't but follow.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,.[Luke 4:18].

 vs 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Then the LORD answered me and said: " Write the vision And make [it] plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.[Habakuk 2:2]

Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed him.[Matthew 4:19-20]

Leadership - Diversity

Having followers who think like you, have your kind of experience and rarely question your decisions might seem good initially but it is dangerous for your leadership. Never seek to build a monolithic group.

The diversity of opinions and thoughts helps you more than you can imagine. It keeps you from complacency and ensures your actions gets the most acceptance. There is safety in multitude of counsels.

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.[Mark 2:14]

Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.[Proverbs 11:14]

"Master," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you." [Mark 9:38-40]

Leadership - Raising leaders

The most important duty of a leader is to produce other leaders. It is a duty that cannot be delayed. It involves identifying delegating and equipping your followers. It is myopic to hoard knowledge when by reproducing yourself; you free yourself to be able to go to the next level of leadership.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.[2 Timothy 2:2]

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. [Acts 4:13]

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. [John 4:12]

Leadership - Learn, unlearn and relearn

Nokia were the leaders in phone production and they stayed on what they knew and became obsolete. As a leader, you need to learn new things, unlearn some things you knew and relearn some things you thought you knew.

Stay inquisitive and always ready to learn, your leadership is as good as your knowledge. Above all, you have the Holy Spirit in you to teach you, rely on him.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.[John 15:13-13]

Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—* *[2timothy 1:15 Amp]