Do you find you have leadership situations in which you “float?” (135-3)

Developing into an effective leader requires effort. Read Proverbs 12:24.

In his book The Winner Within, former player and NBA Coach Pat Riley reveals the effort it takes to be a leader on the floor: “Being a game player is a fiction some people use to excuse themselves from working as hard as they should. People who think they are game players are what coaches call ‘floaters.’ They float along on a cushion of talent or sheer physical size and strength. They don’t see what all the fuss over concentration and work ethic is about – until players of lesser talent start scoring in their face, quarter after quarter, simply because they are more in tune with their game…Eventually, every team (and player) has to learn that excellence isn’t a destination. It’s a process that must be continually improved.”

Leaders often long for more but settle for less, falling prey to the inertia of sloppy work habits and slothful routines. Effective leaders are life-long learners and build relational, skill and personal development into their daily routine. I personally have chosen to invest a couple of hours each morning to reading and writing. Young people today, and my team in particular, are so sharp that this two hours barely keeps me even.

Do you find you have leadership situations in which you “float?” Can you identify areas of your leadership that have slipped to the point you have to live on your reputation rather than current achievement? Identifying these problem areas is the first step to change. Other very basic steps in the process of change are:

• Commit the work of overcoming these problem areas to God.
• Develop a systematic plan for renewing your knowledge and skill in these areas that need change.
• Dedicate the time and energy to work your plan giving it at least 40 days.
• Develop checkpoints and find a way to hold yourself accountable to accomplishment not simply activity.

Christian leaders serve a God who is committed to excellence and perfection in everything He does. It is a worthy offering, and the privilege and honor of every Christian leader to work diligently to reflect the excellence of the God they serve.

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”