Seven Laws of Leadership
686
Intro. 1) Our elders plan to install some new deacons on May 19.
a) The subject of "Leadership" is on our minds
b) Last week we had a very Scriptural sermon …
c) Today's lesson will not be as Biblical as General
2) Today's lesson will be: "The Seven Laws of Leadership"
a) Laws of leadership are pretty similar in all arenas
b) Leadership skills apply in every social setting
c) We can learn (something) from any successful leader,
whoever that one might be.
3) This would be especially true of retired 4 star general,
and former secretary of state … Colin Powell
During his military career, Powell also served
as National Security Advisor (1987–1989),
as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command (1989) and
as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993),
holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War
We assume he must know something about leadership
4) In an article published in Modern Maturity magazine,
Powell listed Seven Laws by which he leads.
a) You determine for yourself if you think these principles
are Godly & might apply to leaders of the church
b) I believe they do … and submit them for your consideration
c) Especially for the consideration of our elders and deacons …
… those now serving … and those who shall.
1.
A Sacrificial Leader Will Dare to be the Skunk
A. It's not easy to say, "The emperor is naked."
B. It's easier to blend in – to agree – to say all is well
a. That's not always what's best for the cause
b. A leader must love the cause he leads . . .
1) … enough to go against the grain
2) … enough to rock the boat
3) … enough to say, "This is not right."
c. A sacrificial leader must love the cause
more than he loves himself
C. Colin Powell practiced what he preached …
… having been known to "rock the boat" on numerous occasions
D. Sacrificial parents will do this for their children.
a. They will forbid their kids to go into questionable
situations that even the kids are leery to enter
b. They provide their kids a scrape-goat to blame …
"Aw… my parents (elders) won't let me go …"
E. Jesus said, "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
2.
An Informed Leader Will Spend Plenty of Time in the Trenches
A.
B.
"To get the real dirt, head for the trenches."
1. If you want to know what's really going on –
get down there amongst them
2. "The people in the field are closest to the problem."
so … get down there with the people in the field
Ivory tower leaders are out of touch with real life.
1. Some elderships don't even know the names of people
under their charge.
2. If they don't know the names, they sure don't know the
problems, trials, or sorrows they face.
C. A leader can't be informed unless he listens
to those in the trenches
1. He may not like what he hears.
2. He may not want to hear what he is being told.
3. But … he must . . . graciously accept the information
as well as the diverse opinions of his constituents
3.
A Confident Leader is not Afraid to Share the Power
A. "Plans don't accomplish work . . .
It's people who get things done."
1. Every single person is important.
2. Every single person has something to contribute.
B. It's a cowardly leader who is afraid to delegate authority.
1. Nothing is accomplished by leaders who refuse to let
the task get any bigger than they themselves
can micro-manage.
2. Deacons, ministry leaders, members …
1) can be given authority over a budget
2) can make decisions within that budget
3) can take initiative without fear in every step
C. Jesus delegated authority for the success of His church …
1. to 12 mortal men
2. to 12 mortal men who had no experience
3. to 12 mortal men who didn't know what they were doing
4.
A Courageous Leader Knows When to Ignore the Advisors
A. Eventually … leaders must make the final decision.
1. In the home, in business, in the church …
a. those responsible will listen to every suggestion
b. they will consider every opinion
c. they will take plenty of time before taking action
2. But eventually … something must be done.
a. What is decided will not please every advisor.
b. Fielding displeasure is the cost of leadership
3. Leaders are chosen, partly because of their experience
a. They must not ignore their hard earned
"gut instincts".
b. They must rely on wisdom earned through
"hard fought" experiences
B. God is the ultimate advisor for leaders of God's church
Peter said, "We must listen to God, and not to men."
5.
A Progressive Leader Develops Selective Amnesia
A. This one sounds really weird … doesn't it?
1. Reminiscent of Ronald Reagan in the Iran/Contra affair
2. Reminiscent of Clinton in some of his "affairs"
3. But … it's not exactly like it sounds.
B. "Progressive" is the key word in this law of leadership.
1. Progress is inevitable. The world keeps changing.
2. Nothing stays exactly the same forever.
3. You can't stick your foot in the same river twice.
4. O.K. … so what's this got to do with "amnesia"?
C. Leaders in the church must not get entrenched in nostalgia.
1. What worked then might not be the best thing now.
2. Our policy in that circumstance might need change now
3. How we did it there might not be very good here.
D. Leaders mustn't get trapped in fixed ways of seeing things.
1. Mustn't allow egos to attach themselves to positions.
2. "Never let ego get so close to your position that when
your position goes, your ego goes with it."
3. The idea is this:
Be able to forget what your position used to be
Re-evaluate your position fresh each day.
E. Paul said, "Forgetting what lies behind, I press on toward the
mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
6.
An Energetic Leader Takes Time to Come Up for Air
A. No one can be of service who is exhausted.
1. Exhaustion can be either physical or mental or both.
2. Relentless pressure can sap the strength from anyone.
B. The problems brought before any kind of leader are unending
1. There will never come a time when every dilemma is
settled and there is nothing that needs fixing.
2. God's leaders must come to the inescapable conclusion
that they cannot live people's lives for them.
a. Everyone must live their own life.
b. They can't carry a "fix-it" guy around in their pocket
c. It's o.k. to let them face their own consequences
C. Leaders need time for themselves and their families.
1. Having a "Camp David" is as much a part of
good leadership as anything else
2. Leadership demands a high level of energy.
a. To be on the job without energy is the same as
not being on the job at all.
b. Energy requires a time for rest and relaxation.
3. Leaders' families are always in the spotlight.
a. Much is required of elder's wives / elder's homes
b. So … there comes a time when the door is shut …
and the family gets a little R and R.
4. There must be no sense of guilt for doing this.
a. "Anybody who is logging hours to impress me is
wasting their time."
b. Jesus knew when to leave the ever
demanding crowds and get away
1) He'd sail under the cover of darkness
2) He'd go off to remote places w / disciples
3) The purpose is distinctly stated: to rest.
c. This practice left his team energetic
for their next encounter with those in need
7.
A Contributing Leader Will Declare Victory and Quit
A. There is a wisdom in leadership which knows when it's over.
1. The point is proved – there's no need to press it further
2. The project is finished – no need to give it another pat
3. Let the folks go home and enjoy God's peaceful life.
B. Powell is convinced that not every leader makes the decision
to withdraw from the position of authority soon enough.
1. There comes a time when effectiveness is
compromised by time.
2. You can be "beloved for what you've done" without
being a hindrance to what you're preventing.
3. When you're no longer "getting the job done" …
step down from the role of leadership.
4. Don't wait for someone to have to ask you.
Concl. 1) "Leadership is not rank, privilege, titles, or money.
It's responsibility."
2) Can you see the characteristics of an effective leader?
Sacrificial – Informed – Confident – Courageous
Progressive – Energetic – Contributing
3) These characteristics are only met by those . . .
who love the cause more than they love themselves
who are closely associated with those they serve
who are not afraid to delegate authority
who can make independent decisions
who detach their egos from their positions
who allow for periods of rest and relaxation
who know when to call it a day
4) Seven Laws of Leadership