Leadership understandably means doing the right things and making the right decisions. But have you considered that equally important is making sure you don’t do the wrong things? These may be obvious, but here are two for a punchout list for you to consider.
Don’t take credit for someone else’s work or accomplishments. I happened to be hanging with a friend, a well-known leader in the construction biz. We were standing next to a beautiful recreational vehicle while we talked. An employee of his interrupted our conversation. As he talked with him, he implied that the RV was his. No big deal, except, I knew who that actual owner was…and it wasn’t him. Here’s my question for you. Do you think I was more likely or less likely to look to my friend for leadership direction after that conversation? You’re right! Less likely. It was unnecessary, but it was a way for him to look better in the eyes of one of his employees.
Don’t do all the work yourself. Seems pretty clear, but sadly, many leaders fall into the trap of doing everything themselves. They burn out and they fail to grow new leaders. I love the story of Jesus, sending out his disciples two by two. Matthew 6:6-7 Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. They were to do the same things that Jesus Himself was doing. Would they do it as well as their leader? No. But Jesus knew it was essential to pour into these emerging leaders as they would soon pick up the baton of ministry leadership. Leadership means delegating to the right people to get the job done.