One of the most frequent questions leaders ask is, “How do I know when I am leading
leaders?”
Here are four signs:
1. They come to you with problems—AND the solutions to solve them.
Any fool can see a problem—it takes a leader to examine WHY the problem is there and then
WHAT to do about it. One of the greatest things about an effective team is that when
someone presents a problem they already know how to solve it.
By the way—the best questions a leader can ask the people he serves with when a problem
is presented is: “What do you think should be done about it?”
2. They are more upset about a mess up than you are.
When someone on your team is more upset about dropping the ball than you are, they have
clearly taken ownership of the issue—which is essential for someone to thrive as a leader.
Passion for what a person does is essential if they are going to be an excellent leader. And
you can’t pay someone to be passionate—either they are, or they’re not!
3. Being around them actually fires you up.
People are contagious...attitudes and all.
If a leadership environment is going to thrive, then people must feed off of one another as
far as passion and excitement. People WILL contribute to the fire inside of you—they either
throw water or gasoline on it. And one of the most common traits of leaders is they are
always throwing gas on other people’s fires.
I know some people think they always need to be “the devil’s advocate” in a meeting, which
basically presents two problems:
● First, the devil doesn’t need a freakin’ advocate—he’s doing pretty well all by himself.
● Second, we aren’t exactly supposed to be working for him!
Now, the truth SHOULD be told when a bad idea is brought up, which leads to the next one...
4. They don’t retreat inside their shell when conflict arises but rather
embrace the tension in the room and will speak the truth in love until a
resolution is reached.
One of the biggest problems in church world today is unresolved conflict among team
members.
A disagreement will take place, and because a person would rather just “make nice” than
work towards a solution, they will lie and say things are fine and agree to an idea or
philosophy they do not completely buy into.
However, leaders will speak their minds, even if they know it is not going to be popular!
And even if they know that in the end they will probably lose the argument, they would
MUCH rather have a clear conscience than be a coward.
When conflict arises in a room, I believe a GREAT solution is right around the corner. All
people need to do is realize they are on the same team, working for the same goals, and
then be willing to speak truthfully in respectful ways, so the best idea can be presented and
then implemented.