The
Most Important Truth About Leadership
by Captain Pete
Brookshaw
Leadership is elusive. How can you gauge when you have
mastered it (if there is such a thing)? How do you know if you
are failing miserably? What is the most important factor in
leadership?
It might sound crazy to you,
but I think God downloaded a one-liner that will revolutionize
my future. It will stop me thinking about things out of my
control. It will keep me focused. So, I'm about to give you
the most important tip on leadership anyone
could ever give you.
John C. Maxwell drilled down leadership to 21 Irrefutable
Laws. Posner and Kouzes in
The Truth About
Leadership nailed down ten truths that encapsulate good
leadership. Others like Pastor Bill Hybels have knuckled
leadership down to four fundamentals, like vision and
character. Authors like Jim Collins offer us insights into
developing level 5 kind of leadership. Stephen Covey leaved a
legacy of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and added an
overarching 8th Habit later on.
So, if I had to some up my most important truth about
leadership, what would it be?
This number one leadership idea came to me while on our
Northern Territory Region (Australia) Youth Camp. I was laying
on the dormitory bed, reflecting on the day that had just
been. I was reflecting on the challenges I was facing. I was
thinking about the future, the possibilities, the change that
could happen, the difference that could be made... I prayed. I
asked God to equip me to be a better leader.
Then something popped in my mind that had me sitting up
straight immediately. I call it a 'Word from the Lord', and
some of you might just call it an idea that sprung into my
head. It nonetheless lifted me from any sort of slumber and
made me take notice. Here it is...
"The greatest challenge you will ever face in leadership, is
you."
If you consider any problem/conflict/issue, whether it be a
broken relationship, an unfinished project, or an unrealised
dream, the only thing you have control over is your action or
response to the situation at hand. You cannot change many
things; but you can change you.
As a Christian, the challenge for me, is to be more
Christlike, to grow in holiness and to let my life encapsulate
a deep spirituality found in Jesus and be gracious,
compassionate, and assertive in leadership that draws people
together to change the world for God! Therefore, my greatest
challenge in leadership in a sense, is me.
For you, in whatever aspect of Salvation Army work you are in,
and whatever your passions are, and whatever dreams keep you
up at night, remember, the greatest challenge in leadership
will always be... you.
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