Learning from Leaders #2

One of my favorite advertisements is a picture of a businessman standing on the street staring up in amazement as “question marks” fall from the sky. These “questions” rain down and are piling up on the ground. The tag says, “Questions are everywhere, insights are not!”

I have always believed that good things can happen if we ask the right questions…the right people. Whether you are wondering about direction, struggling with grand challenges, making big decisions or searching for godly advice, help is often one good question away. It’s another way of looking at Jesus’ famous “you have not because you ask not” statement.

Our GOD is well able to do “exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we ask or think”…but we must ask it and think it first! There is a vital link between prayer, asking questions, pondering insights, strategic planning and implementation success. In our world of busyness and copycat planning, too often the decisions we make have negative “unintended consequences.” This simply wouldn’t be the norm if we took the time to pursue and process some counsel from other leaders.

The following is a list of some of the “Life Lessons” I’ve learned from watching and interviewing other leaders. This learning was not merely gaining knowledge, but helped me “translate knowing what to do into doing what you know.”

1. “Rational Inquiry” – “Ask, seek…knock.” We should “seek understanding as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure” (Pr 2:4). Valuing God’s word and wise input from others is essential. I learned this mostly from leaders I’ve read about, and from experiencing the negative consequences resulting from not understanding or neglecting this (Read about it in my previous blog).

2. “Receiving” – Godly leaders have a commitment to lifelong learning and genuine humility. They are not proud, but love the truth, hunger for revelation and seek wisdom other than their own. Leaders should desire to listen and learn. A teachable spirit is a hallmark of authenticity, and a key part of any leader’s commitment to be effective (not original)…and faithful (rather than relevant).

3. “Reading” – Leaders are readers! Whether reading about or talking to them, you quickly learn that reading has had the greatest consistent influence on their lives. In the information age, when we are short on knowledge and long on opinion; the outcome of instant/total information is inflation…more available, less valuable. Therefore it is essential to avail yourself of the insights only found in the Bible and good books, for they definitely prove to have the “most value per words spoken/written.”

4. “Revelation of Priorities” – Values ooze from a leader’s pores and affect the atmosphere around them. The tangible fruit of this brings clarity of, commitment to and communication of “the things that matter most”. With all the emphasis on vision and values these days, it seems the necessity and power of priorities is often overlooked. When near a good leader, you will be influenced by what’s supremely meaningful while receiving a revelation and refocusing of priorities.

5. “Realizing Instrumentality” – God chooses, anoints and uses men and women. HE builds His Church through diverse gifts and personalities. 2 Cor. 4:7 is the Divine means of life changing, history making ministry. Great leaders know they are instrumental prior to any methodology, and therefore see individuals as primary, not methods or programs. I learned this early in my ministry life, and have been shocked to discover how man leaders today don’t understand or practice this.

6. “Responsible Initiative and Integration” – To start, transition or connect anything can be both a daunting and difficult task. And the consequences of irresponsible leadership in new ventures or significant transitions can be devastating.

Many leaders hastily plow forward as the proverbial “bull in a china shop” after making a decision. Still others, through fear or apathy, simply procrastinate or even worse capitulate to the prevailing spirit of indifference. The result being, they do/decide nothing…even when action is desperately needed. More common, however, are those leaders who recognize something must be done and become so bogged down in details that they delay decisions until it’s too late.

While it is certainly true that many mistakes are made due to ignorance or desired perfection (too little or too much information), the greatest foibles are usually the direct result of hasty or delayed decision-making. As a leader, timing can be everything, especially if it provides for patience to discover pertinent insights or confidence to act intelligently when actions are called for. Accurately discerning timing, contextualizing decisions, connecting with the right people relationally and good communication are all parts of initiating and integrating effectively.


Please take the time to write your own list of “Life Lessons” learned from other leaders or great books…and read Pr 2 and 3…both will prove worth-while now and invaluable in the days ahead…