Leadership

12 strategies Jesus of Nazareth used to become a dynamic transformational leader.

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The greatest transformational leader in history is Jesus of Nazareth, bar none. Who else has the entire modern world calendar starting with one’a physical death? Only He!

If you ignored His just proclamation as the Son of God and the Son of Man along with humanity’s long-awaited Messiah, the life of Jesus still produced numerous attributes for leaders, especially servant leaders, to imitate.

Below are 12 of these attributes which we can implement starting today:

  1. Recruiting team members after thought and prayer with a strong purpose statement and strong call to action. Character, commitment and attitude were more important to Him than an impressive resume and previous experience
  2. Investing quality time and energy into your inner circle of people
  3. Taking personal care and keen interest with each individual
  4. Being serendipitous when exciting opportunities yet remaining highly focused on the primary purpose
  5. Carving out regular alone time to think, pray and meditate
  6. Entrusting and empowering your company of people to execute main mission
  7. Leading by example from the front
  8. Eagerly serving others while always seeking their welfare
  9. Engaging a wide variety of people by various means
  10. Understanding the proper place for legitimate authority, seeking to please and fufill your higher authority yet not letting false authority stop you
  11. Using what you have on hand to make things bigger and better by innovating and creatively solving problems, often tapping into your Higher Power
  12. Surrendering your selfish will for a higher purpose while sacrificing short term pain for long term gain; Loving always and finding joy in doing God’s will by making His will – yours.
WWJD – What would Jesus do?

While we cannot live a perfect life like Jesus, we can live a life that transforms the world. We simply need to heed the wisdom of the apostle Paul, who wrote:

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NCV).

John Maxwell

Leaders Are

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By: Adam Stevenson

Leaders are leaders because leaders will work

You can’t plant a seed if you won’t dig in the dirt

You can’t say you tried when you have no sweat on your shirt

But leaders are leaders are leaders because leaders will work

Leaders are leaders because leaders aren’t scared

You can’t get ahead if you won’t go anywhere

You can’t breathe in deeply if you won’t clear the air

But leaders are leaders because leaders aren’t scared

Leaders are leaders because leaders will think

You can’t hydrate your soul if you don’t take a drink

You can’t pull it together if you’re missing a link

But leaders are leaders because leaders will think

Leaders are leaders because leaders say no

You can’t stand firm if you’re always out on the go

You can’t cast a net if it’s too big to throw

But leaders are leaders because leaders say no

Leaders are leaders because leaders don’t quit

You can’t get warm by a fire unless the branches stay lit

You can’t finish the puzzle until the pieces all fit

But leaders are leaders because leaders don’t quit

Leaders are leaders because leaders bow down

You can’t lift someone up with your feet off the ground

You can’t lead the lost if the lost can’t be found

But leaders are leaders because leaders bow down

Leaders are leaders because leaders speak truth

You can’t kill a weed without pulling the root

You can’t hear the song if the music is mute

But leaders are leaders because leaders speak truth

Leaders are leaders because leaders take pain

You can’t build a muscle without any strain

You can’t get a diamond without the hot flame

But leaders are leaders because leaders take pain

And Leaders are leaders because leaders know life’s worth

You can’t spend a dime from your box in the dirt

You can’t fix the pain until you can find the hurt

You can’t have a life without first having a birth

You can’t be your best if you think only the worst

You can’t live for you and do good on our Earth

Because leaders are leaders who know what life’s worth

From the Bible on Business – Seeking God’s Help in Solving Problems

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Sometimes our problems are such there is no solution in sight. If we are not the ones who created the problem we can find ourselves at a dead end trying to solve it. There may be factors beyond our control or people whose decisions and actions determine the outcome. At such times it is important to remember the path we choose to find the solution is as important as the solution itself.

Problems can be opportunities to learn to depend on God. Nehemiah led the people of Judah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in 446 BC. Opposition goes with the territory of being a leader. Nehemiah was no exception and had his fair share of opposition. He faced problems which were not within his control. Some of these problems were created by people with malicious intent, but he refused to buckle under pressure, continued to do his work and remained focused on his goals.

Even though Nehemiah was a man of action, his prayer life was not neglected. He blended practicality and spirituality in order to solve the problems he faced. What a great example of a leader he is for us.

He knew action is necessary for results, but action backed with prayer guarantees success. When his enemies plotted against him, Nehemiah realized that this was not a problem that he could solve in his own strength. Instead, he sought God’s help in dealing with it.

Nehemiah prayed practical prayers that showed reliance on God while he kept on with his task. Likewise, if we rely on God when faced with problems, we’ll have the ability to press on with our work and to reach our goals.

Joseph Vijayam is the CEO of Olive Technology and resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You can keep up with Joseph on Twitter at @josephvijayam.

My Take:

Yes, our success is indeed guaranteed when we seek out God with our whole being for a just cause as Romans 8:28 affirms.

Nehemiah is a great leader to study. One aspect I am taking away is his focus. He wasn’t going to let non-essentials detract from his accomplishment of the mission set before him.

The author pointed out so well his balance of using his God given assets to accomplish his goal; that of his physical / mental resources and his spiritual ones. That of his personal leadership and that of unified teamwork.

Nehemiah was wise by not letting naysayers drag him down and thwart his plans. I really like words he said:

“Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”

For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”

Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”


‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6:8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yes, indeed. When our problems are beyond our grasp, we need help from our team and most importantly, all the time, from God almighty.

From the Bible in Business – Resolute Leadership

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Resolute Leadership

I’ve always been intrigued by Luke’s phrase “and Jesus fixed his face for Jerusalem” (9:51). Others have translated this action as “resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Regardless of the translation, it is clear Jesus adopted a posture of focus on the mission and he calls business leaders to do the same. If we’re going to follow Jesus in this manner, let us consider three leadership principles from this passage:

  1. Good leaders know the mission.

Throughout Luke 9, we see Jesus reveal significant aspects of his character and work to the followers. Although often misunderstood, the gospels paint a picture of Jesus as one with clear purpose and passion — that he pursued resolutely.

  1. Good leaders pursue a purpose beyond themselves.

From the miracles to Simon Peter’s proclamation to the Apostles debate over greatness, Luke 9 weaves together several instances where Jesus could have easily decided to pursue his own greatness. In fact, it seems the disciples in their misunderstanding actually believed this to be His intent. In the end, Jesus knew his purpose was to pursue the will of the Father and only in His “leastness” would “greatness” be found (9:48).

  1. Good leaders strive for goals that require the work of others.

Luke opens chapter nine with Jesus’ commissioning of the Twelve and follows with multiple instances of Jesus doing work requiring their participation. From managing the crowds (9:13-17) to conversation about His identity (9:18-27), the disciples were integral to Jesus’ mission.

So, the work of business leaders is to build culture and lead organizations that create value. In order to do these things, Jesus’ lessons from Luke 9 encourage us to (1) be clear on the mission, (2) make sure that the mission is more than our personal gain and (3) pursue goals big enough to require the work of others.

Dale Gauthreaux teaches leadership and organizational behavior at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business in Atlanta, Georgia.

Yes, indeed. Good fundamental words of advice.

Diligent Fervant Servant – Romans 12:10-11

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PRINCIPLE / TRUTH
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;” Romans 12:10-11

AFFIRMATION
“I am a kind, loving, and honoring diligent fervent servant”

ACTION
Kindly affectionating
Brotherly loving
Honoring by giving preference

MANNER
Diligence – attending to details, organized, following through, seeing projects to completion, capable
Fervant – passionate, emotional, energetic, enthusiastic, intent, strong drive, spirited
Serving – delivering valuable service, other peoples needs important, working humbly, listening to please

TO
the Lord – Father, Son, and Spirit
Christians – unity in the Spirit
Others – created by God

Video Review of this Passage Teaching by yours truly

Video Transcript:

Okay. So what we want to view today is there’ll be a diligent fervent servant from Romans 12, 10 through 11. And the good word says, and it’s of course, a principle and truth. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and honor giving preference to one another, not lagging and diligence. No, no, no. But to be fervent in spirit serving the Lord, Romans 12, 10 through 11. So my affirmation built around this is that I am kind loving and honoring a diligent fervent servant. I’m a kind loving, honoring diligent. Fervent servant. Yes, I am. So the action words upon there is to be kindly affectionate, to be brotherly loving, and honoring giving preference to one another, to put the other person ahead of yourself as in the first will be last and the last way first. So the manner to do that diligence, that’s attending to details, being organized, follow through, excuse me, and seeing projects to completion it’s being capable. I love that diligence fervent another great word to be passionate, emotional, energetic, enthusiastic, and tipped test strong drive, and to be spirited. And lastly, serving like the servant leader should be delivering valuable service. That’s a tune for the person who needs it. You know, other people’s needs are important. We should look at other people’s perspectives. We should be working humbly with meekness. And lastly, we should be listening and working to please to make the other person happy. And that is to first to the Lord, the father, son, and spirit, second to other Christians and having unity and spirit in the Central’s unity in grace preference should abide and proliferate. And lastly, love should abound others and all things were all created by God. Once again, diligent, fervent servant be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and honoring giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Amen.