ARE YOU WORTH BEING FOLLOWED?

ARE YOU THE TYPE OF LEADER TO BE FOLLOWED?

Leadership can be worked on and improved every single day as one chooses. Yes you can work on your leadership to improve it. Here are facts about leadership:

-         Leadership is an inside out job.

·        One must possess some leadership skills, but there are heart qualities that one needs to build in his or her heart first.

·        Paul in acts 9:3-6 when he is called to lead, he first of all asks who is sending him and what specifically does he want him to do. You need to ask yourself this very important questions.

·        When you build inside you the leader you want to be, you become the leaders you want to be from outside

-         Leaders are only as strong as their foundation

·        The success of any leader will depend on how well he masters his inner life.

·        You could have all the skills, talents and gifts but their effectiveness is  only based on the foundation on which they are built

-         Mistakes in leadership foundation

·        It does not matter where, be it in church or in politics we are too quick to judge according to outside appearance or composure.

·        At times the foundation is either ignored or it goes unnoticed. Why are you giving that leadership?

·        Such mistakes when choosing a leader could lead to compromise of the integrity of the foundation it was meant to support. At times if repairs are not done it could lead to tragedy.

·        Before expecting effective leadership that can weather any storms, serious preparatory work must be done to those areas of a leader’s life so as to provide strong foundation to build on effective leadership.

-         The world needs leaders who are living examples of below the surface qualities that give value to what is seen above the surface. Christian character on top of the skills provides great foundation for results that last.

·        Character is the foundation upon which you should build your leadership skills or traits

-         Theology of self-leadership

·        In 1 Timothy 1:18-19 AND 1Timothy 3:2-5 Paul instructs Timothy to pay greater attention to the manner in which he contacts his own life.

·        He further  instructs Timothy to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness

·        Failing to lead can lead to but news about the body of Christ because of the office or leadership position that you are holding.

-         The heart of a leader

·        In the book of Psalms 78:72 it talks of leading with integrity of the heart.

·        In proverbs 23:7 the Wiseman says that as a man thinks in his heart so is he.

·        The great qualities of a heart of a great leader that’s a must to build

1.     Heart of integrity

ü Trust is the basis upon which leadership functions

ü Living by high standards

ü Work on your integrity as you work your image image

ü Influence value goes higher with integrity

ü Charisma will draw people but only integrity will keep the

2.     In building strong character, leaders must choose to:

ü Develop personal discipline

ü Develop personal security and identity

ü Develop personal convictions, values and ethics

-         People want to follow a leader who:

1.     Has great vision in life

Philippians 3:7-14---pressing on to the goal, living all the rest to attain the goal

How to know your God given purpose:

Ask yourself the following questions

ü What are my burdens eg. I have a burden to educate the orphans. Or I have a burden to fill the church with believers etc.

ü What are your spiritual gifts eg encouraging, warning, teaching etc. that that you can use to strengthen the faith of others in Christ

ü What is your natural talents e.g singing, painting, writing, Oratory

ü What are your desires and passions? What excites you and you are so passionate about it eg. Mentoring others, teaching others what you know

ü What do others affirm about you eg you are a good teacher, you are good in motivation speaking etc

ü What are your dreams and visions? For example I want to see spirit filled church that know their rights as believers, or I want to have so many leaders in the church or I want to see committed leaders and believers.

ü What opportunities are in front of you? Where has God put you in the midst of children? Or in the midst of orphans or in the midst of people in need or in the abundance or opportunity to study etc

2.     Has removed any hindrance from his life Hebrews 12:1-2

ü Character and integrity are nonnegotiable for a leader that needs following.

ü Character communicates credibility to the followers ie. The urge for them to trust and believe in you as a leader.

ü Character will harness respect

ü Character will harness consistency: Consistency and persistence are two elusive virtues difficult to sustain. Those who uphold discipline are rewarded with success since they harness enduring focus ... Consistency builds character and sharpens the mind.

3.     Has placed himself absolutely at God’s disposal Romans 12:1-2…. Giving our bodies as living sacrifice and not conforming to the patterns of the world but renewing our minds in God.

To lead others we must develop  the attitude of total surrender

ü Leaders  must have nothing to prove to the followers eg I want to prove to you that I can lead or that I am honest or that I can be trusted.

ü As a leader you should have nothing to loose

Work out of the above and you will be a leader your followers enjoy serving or working under. All the Best!



 The Author Dickson Mutashe is a Christian leadership Student at Rhema Bible College, In Nairobi Kenya. He has an experience of over 10 years in different leadership positions both in the church, business and corporate world.