The Importance of Consistency Between Words and Actions

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, followers desire honesty and integrity in their leaders.  When leaders fail to be consistent in their words and actions, followers are hurt and distrust grows while morale drops.  Rebuilding trust and morale can only be accomplished when leaders humbly admit their shortcomings and then make genuine efforts toward positive change.  Unfortunately, some leaders only seek to create the appearance of change, but followers eventually see through the manipulation, and their distrust grows even deeper.

Followers value humility.  No one is perfect.  How leaders handle their mistakes is a reflection on their character.  Strong leaders admit their mistakes, seek forgiveness, and take steps to correct their mistakes.  The result is that respect for them grows among their followers.  Weak leaders look for a scapegoat, or they cleverly rationalize their actions in attempt to convince themselves and their followers that they made an acceptable decision.  Eventually, followers see through the rationalization and lose more respect for their leaders. 

Leaders who say what they mean and mean what they say cultivate intimate relationships with their followers because of the consistency between their words and actions.  They prove to be both trustworthy and reliable.  In turn, this consistency fosters creative growth in their followers, as they feel safe to express their ideas and try new things.  The decisions made by consistent leaders are more likely to be wholeheartedly supported by their followers who then work hard to implement them effectively.

In short, consistency between words and actions is critical to being a successful leader.  Not only are their relationships with their followers more fulfilling, but the outcome of their collective efforts is more significant and successful.

Effective Leadership is like a Marathon

I have never run a marathon, and thanks to exercise induced asthma, I probably never will.  However, I realize my whole life is a marathon, and I must purpose in my heart to finish well.  As a leader of both a Christian counseling ministry and my Ignite home business, I have to keep my focus on working each at a steady, consistent pace, so that I can finish well.  Being disqualified from the race is not an option.  This may be easier said than done.

The research of Dr. J. Robert Clinton, professor of leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, concluded that more than 70 percent of leaders fail to finish well.  His research found that there are six common traits of those leaders who do not finish well.  They are as follows:

1.         They lose their learning posture by no longer listening and growing.

2.         The attractiveness of the character dwindles.

3.          They compromise their convictions.

4.         They fail to leave behind significant contributions.

5.         They lose awareness of their influence and destiny.

6.         They lose their once vibrant relationship with God.

Some of these leaders quit; some plateau through complacency.  Dr. Clinton states that, “a leader whose… skills outstrip his character formation will eventually falter.”  People intuitively respond to character and desire leaders who demonstrate honesty, integrity, and competency.  Leaders who are both inspirational and visionary will never lack for followers.*

Temptation to compromise in business comes in many forms.  Whether it is to overstate the merits of the business to manipulate clients or customers or to compromise the accounting process, honesty and integrity must be maintained.  Any slight deviation through compromise will eventually direct a leader and their business way off course and possibly to disqualification and failure.  Purpose to finish well by valuing honesty, integrity and those who follow you.

(*Quoted from The Ascent of a Leader by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNichol and Ken McElrath; Jossey-Bass; 1999; pg.14).

The Importance of Character in Leadership

Each person is a leader in some capacity: as a big brother or sister, a parent, an employer, a manager, or a mentor.  Each person also chooses whom they will follow.  Our choices are either going to encourage or discourage those who look to us for inspiration. 

Dr. Tim Elmore, a leadership expert, likes to teach using word pictures.  One that has stuck with me is the Iceberg illustration.  Ten percent of the mass of the iceberg is visible above the water line while ninety percent of its mass remains invisible below the water line.  The visible part of the iceberg is not what sinks a ship; it is the invisible part.  In his illustration, Dr. Elmore likens the visible part of the iceberg to the ten percent of our character that we show the people around us, and he likens the invisible part to the ninety percent that is the real us.  That ninety percent is how we act when we think no one is looking at us and is what will determine our success as leaders.  If we compromise in our character and integrity in our private lives, it will sink our proverbial ship in our public lives, but no one will have seen it coming.

As leaders, it is essential to be diligent to maintain our honor and integrity in all areas of our lives.  Our success is not measured in bottom line profits or losses, but rather by the positive or negative impact that we make on the lives of the people around us.  Personally, I endeavor to leave people in a better place in their lives for having met me.  I want to be a blessing to people not a source of hurt or frustration.  I encourage you to take the time to examine your life ‘below the water line.’  Are there any changes that you need to make so that you do not sink your life or the lives of those around you?  If so, make the necessary changes, or have the courage to ask for help to make them.

Remember why!

Knowing why you started your home business is essential in getting started, but remembering why you started your home business is the key to staying motivated.  Sometimes our businesses don’t grow as fast as we thought they would, and we can get discouraged and want to give up.  When we feel like quitting, we have to remember why we started down this road in the first place. 

I started with Ignite with the goal of building my business to the point where I can live off its income, so that I can focus on my real passion, my Biblical counseling ministry.  I want to be able to offer my counseling services for free.  The only way I will be able to do that is to generate an income elsewhere.  My grand vision is to generate enough income to be able to support other Biblical ministry and missionaries by teaching them to build their own Ignite business as well as donating funds to solid ministries. 

When I get tired or discouraged, I review my why, pray, and get refocused on Jesus building Ignite through me.  I get excited when I think of what God can do for me with Ignite, and then what He can do through me with the excess funds He provides me.  I don’t want to accumulate lots of stuff; I want to send as much ahead as possible by reinvesting it into building the Kingdom of God.  I don’t mean to sound super spiritual; I just get excited about being able to give big to Jesus. 

So, what is your why?  Don’t compare it to mine; that’s not my point.  You have to know why you started your business, and you have to remember it every day.  Your why is what will direct your business goals and strategies.  If you haven’t already, sit down and write out your why, and then post it where you will see it.  Never lose sight of your WHY!

The Power of Positive Thinking

I am not a big fan of ‘spin doctors.’   I am more comfortable with someone who is straight up with me.  There are times when our circumstances are painful and difficult.  At the same time, as a Biblical counselor, I also know that where I set my mind directly determines what I feel emotionally.  So, it is critical to build the habit of looking for something positive in every situation. 

Positive thinking staves off discouragement.  One of my Ignite leaders made the statement, “If you think you can, you will.  If you think you can’t, you won’t.”  I find this to be very true.  As soon as a person starts thinking, “I can’t do this,” they are inches away from giving up.  There is a Bible verse that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).  Now, that is a positive mind set.  All means all.  There is no exception to this principle for the person who has trusted Jesus as their Savior. 

As a Christian, I realize that God measures success differently from this world.  The world measures success strictly on the outcome of my performance, my appearance, my income and possessions, and my social network.  God measures success on my attitude in the midst of my performance.  When I submit to obeying God’s will for me and I do the task with the mindset of Jesus doing it through me, I have been successful in God’s eyes regardless of actual outcome of my performance.  Living out of this positive mindset frees me from the fear of worldly failure and from the snare of discouragement when my efforts do not yield the results for which I hoped.  I have also found that living out of this attitude of total submission to and dependence on Jesus, more often than not, yields positive outcomes from my efforts. 

So, look for positive to focus on in every situation.  This will help you fend off discouragement and keep you from quitting.  Failure is often the backdoor to success, but only if you look at your failures in a positive way!