Living from your core

David Bowman Aug. 16, 2018

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

“Everything rises and falls on leadership. You, as the leader, the point person, the CEO, the Big Guy, the Big Dog—however you prefer to think of yourself—you and you alone can provide the inspirational leadership your church requires to move to the next level. This cannot be abdicated or delegated. This cannot be reassigned or made the product of a task force. You are the inspirational leader. Now, go inspire your people!” shared a speaker at a leadership conference. 

Great, I thought. There are days I cannot inspire my dog to go outside. There are days when I cannot inspire myself to get moving in the right direction. How in the world will I inspire others? 

Some people have an attractional aura which draws people to them and makes them want to do great things, to take great risks, to achieve a state of amazingness just because the inspirational leader said it needed to be done. 

Few are the leaders who possess the personal magnetism to empower others toward awesomeness. 

Even so, one of my core values is inspiring leadership. Oxymoron anyone? 

Inspirational leadership

The CEO of one of the hospitals in the Houston Medical Center entered the giant main-floor lobby. He immediately began moving with deliberate direction to each employee on that floor. He called every person by name. He asked personal questions unique to each of them. It was as if each man and woman, regardless of position, was his best friend. He left everyone with a smile.

I’m not that guy. You probably are not either. 

However, I noticed something I have pondered since this chance observation years ago. That leader made everything in those encounters about the other person. His inspiring leadership was not about making him look and feel good, but about making each employee look and feel good. No wonder he was so inspiring. 

I will never enjoy his charisma, but I can employ his methodology. 

People are endlessly fascinated with themselves. If we want to lead them, serve them or work productively with them, we must connect with them. How do we do that? 

Pay attention to people

Here is a suggestion: Pay attention to them.

A guy drives a Subaru with an Earth bumper sticker. He wears Merrell hiking shoes and Patagonia outerwear. He has a Fourteener tattoo. How do you think he spends his Saturdays? Here’s a wild guess: He’s not sitting home watching a Netflix marathon of Riverdale. What do you think he wants to talk about come Monday? What would be a good question to ask him?

If you want to connect more deeply, move beyond curiosity to interest. Learn to like the things they like.

That is inspirational leadership.

To inspire is to fill someone with the desire to do something. It is about helping others believe in their God-given abilities and their developing talents to the point they take risks which garner rewards and build confidence. Inspirational leadership is not about your ability to impress others, but to help others impress themselves. 

Breathe courage into fearful souls

Inspirational leadership is demonstrated by breathing courage into fearful souls. 

Winston Churchill talked England and the Allies through World War II. He determined that, as far as it depended on him, he would encourage and inspire his countrymen and compatriots toward greatness and victory. 

How could you do the same thing at home? At work? At church? 

Our Baby Girl (who recently celebrated her 26th birthday) just took the Texas Bar Exam. I began writing daily encouragement to her over two months ago as she began working through her prep course. This was the first note as we began counting down the days to the completion of the bar exam and the beginning of her adventures in lawyerdom:

“One day,” she said. 

One Day she would invest herself in the hard work of providing safety and freedom for the little ones. One Day is now one day closer.

Today is Day One. 

Three years of the paper chase behind her, one final hurdle remains before the lifestyle of liberation fully begins. Day by day, destiny draws closer. Day by day, details deepen into knowledge. Day by day, the final exam inches nearer. 

“One day,” she promised. 

Today, that day is one day closer. One day soon, a promise made becomes a promise kept. 

Day One is here. 

Love you,

Dad

P.S.: 68 days to go

Questions to consider

• What are your core values?

• What guides your decision-making process at the deepest level?

• How do you choose what to say yes to and what to decline?

Living from your core gives you the freedom to be who you really are.

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

David Bowman, (DMin, PCC) is the Executive Director of Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, Texas. He also serves as a Multiplying Trainer for Future Church Co. Learn More »

• Did you ever use one of these to share your faith? (by Tom Crenshaw)
• Why people don't respond when you talk to them (by Carey Nieuwhof)
• When preaching solutions, do these two things first (by Mark MacDonald)
• How smartphones have been used toward a torrent of cyberbullying (by Thom Rainer)

Free eBook

Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry

Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.

Download Now