If the first key in leadership is looking up to Heaven in humility, (instead of looking down on those under us), there’s a second related key as well.
Namely, not only has Almighty God “placed” us in our place of leadership -- He actively, purposely “places” those around us as well!
As a marriage and family counselor, I often hear from couples that they’re experiencing, “irreconcilable differences.” In truth, I’ve heard that same complaint in numerous churches, ministries and business teams I’ve worked with over the years. In fact, I just spoke with a pastor who actually said, “I know what I need to do. I need to fire my whole congregation!”For many of us, it’s the people we work with or try to lead (particularly if we’re focused on “our kingdom”) who are the problem. And unfortunately (and unwisely) that often means, “I’m sick and tired of the people I work with who are so different from me!” Like that detail person who always seems to shoot down our ideas in a staff meeting. Or the dreamer who can’t seem to stay focused on the task. Or the leader who steps into other areas outside her own to “coach” people that don’t report to her. Or the sensitive person who says “Yes” to every assignment, even when they’re hopelessly buried in projects and know they can’t get that task done.
“Why isn’t everyone like me!” we can lament – and yet when we do, we are erasing a key reason God put “different” people in our life!
That detail person that frustrates us so much is also the person, if we valued his or her strengths, who could tell us those two or three things that are keeping our idea from becoming a reality. Or the “dreamer” with all the creativity that first attracted us to him (and that’s now so frustrating) might have the key idea that breaks through a log-jam we’re facing. Or the person who is gifted at coaching and feel “underutilized” could perhaps be given a broader area of influence or coaching others (so they use more of their gifts and we didn’t have to do so much). Or that caring person, who seems to slow down under pressure, could also share with us what, specifically, is causing hurt or holding back others from doing their best at work (because they see so much of what’s going on around them).Rodney Cox, President of Ministry Insights (www.ministryinsights.com) and the online designer of The Leading From Your Strengths Online report, goes all over the country and world, sharing a very simple message.
“God gives us our strengths… but He delights in our differences.”
That is so true and so biblical! “Irreconcilable differences” can actually be grounds for a great ministry team, friendship, or family relationship! You see this clearly in 1 Corinthians 12 where we’re told, “For the body is not one member, but many. Yet it’s important to know that it’s God Himself who distributes gifts and talents, for to continue Paul’s thought, “But God has placed the members each one of them in the body, just as He desires.” (1 Cor. 12:18). In other words, it is Almighty God Himself who has placed us with those in our ministry or family – as Rodney says, “To complete us not defeat us!” To protect us, not lead us to frustration.
When we realize that our place of ministry is not our “Kingdom” to rule, and that its “subjects” are there by God’s divine design (not to live out our will), it can change our attitude and actions as a leader. For example, instead of demanding that every problem in our ministry be solved in an “aggressive” way, (because we’re an “aggressive” problem solver), we start realizing that Almighty God “placed” that “reflective” problem-solver on our team to protect us and help us make good decisions, not to stop us or frustrate us.
Have you had a chance to take inventory of the strengths exhibited in those you enjoy life with every day and to actively appreciate them and thank God for the roles that they play in your life?
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