Essential Qualities of a Leader

There are four essential qualities of a leader: Character, Perspective, Courage and Favor. We see clearly that many leaders lack at least one of these qualities, which really impacts their effectiveness. Even in the Bible one of these qualities was missing in most cases. You might be able to pick out which quality was lacking in the life of Peter or Pilate or Joshua or Samson.

But there are certain things we can do to allow God to build those qualities in us. You can see the PowerPoint presentation on this topic which outlines some suggestions for development here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pkKYw5w7kHcJeOF7hlvgk1CkVz0lK45vAAFl_l55ZNU/edit?usp=sharing
Here are some more suggestions...

Help them take calculated risks. Talk it over with them, but let them do it. Your primary job is to prepare your child for how the world really works.

Discuss how they must learn to make choices. They must prepare to both win and lose, not get all they want and to face the consequences of their decisions.

Share your own “risky” experiences from your teen years. Interpret them. Because we’re not the only influence on these kids, we must be the best influence.

Instead of tangible rewards, how about spending some time together? Be careful you aren’t teaching them that emotions can be healed by a trip to the mall.

Choose a positive risk taking option and launch kids into it (i.e. sports, jobs, etc). It may take a push but get them used to trying out new opportunities.

Don’t let your guilt get in the way of leading well. Your job is not to make yourself feel good by giving kids what makes them or you feel better when you give it.

Don’t reward basics that life requires. If your relationship is based on material rewards, kids will experience neither intrinsic motivation nor unconditional love.

Affirm smart risk-taking and hard work wisely. Help them see the advantage of both of these, and that stepping out a comfort zone usually pays off.

- See more at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/3-mistakes-we-make-leading-kids/#sthash.Skbeuoge.dpuf

Help them take calculated risks. Talk it over with them, but let them do it. Your primary job is to prepare your child for how the world really works.

Discuss how they must learn to make choices. They must prepare to both win and lose, not get all they want and to face the consequences of their decisions.

Share your own “risky” experiences from your teen years. Interpret them. Because we’re not the only influence on these kids, we must be the best influence.

Instead of tangible rewards, how about spending some time together? Be careful you aren’t teaching them that emotions can be healed by a trip to the mall.

Choose a positive risk taking option and launch kids into it (i.e. sports, jobs, etc). It may take a push but get them used to trying out new opportunities.

Don’t let your guilt get in the way of leading well. Your job is not to make yourself feel good by giving kids what makes them or you feel better when you give it.

Don’t reward basics that life requires. If your relationship is based on material rewards, kids will experience neither intrinsic motivation nor unconditional love.

Affirm smart risk-taking and hard work wisely. Help them see the advantage of both of these, and that stepping out a comfort zone usually pays off.

- See more at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/3-mistakes-we-make-leading-kids/#sthash.Skbeuoge.dpuf

Help them take calculated risks. Talk it over with them, but let them do it. Your primary job is to prepare your child for how the world really works.

Discuss how they must learn to make choices. They must prepare to both win and lose, not get all they want and to face the consequences of their decisions.

Share your own “risky” experiences from your teen years. Interpret them. Because we’re not the only influence on these kids, we must be the best influence.

Instead of tangible rewards, how about spending some time together? Be careful you aren’t teaching them that emotions can be healed by a trip to the mall.

Choose a positive risk taking option and launch kids into it (i.e. sports, jobs, etc). It may take a push but get them used to trying out new opportunities.

Don’t let your guilt get in the way of leading well. Your job is not to make yourself feel good by giving kids what makes them or you feel better when you give it.

Don’t reward basics that life requires. If your relationship is based on material rewards, kids will experience neither intrinsic motivation nor unconditional love.

Affirm smart risk-taking and hard work wisely. Help them see the advantage of both of these, and that stepping out a comfort zone usually pays off.

- See more at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/3-mistakes-we-make-leading-kids/#sthash.Skbeuoge.dpuf

1. Take calculated risks - learn to balance the risk with the advantages.
2. Learn to make good choices - and be responsible for the choices you make!
3. Share your positive risk taking experiences with others and learn from them too.
4. Remind yourself that your accomplishments are due to God's grace and your hard work, not because you are any better than anyone else.

Here are useful definitions for each one:
Character enables the leader to do what is right... even when it is difficult.
Perspective enables the leader to see and understand what must happen to reach the goal.
Courage enables the leader to initiate and calculate the risk to step out towards a goal.
Favor enables the leader to attract and empower others to join in the cause.

Review the four primary qualities of effective, healthy leadership. Do you exhibit these qualities in your life and leadership? As a leader. which of the four qualities of healthy, effective leadership are you strongest in? In which are you weakest? How will you grow in your area of weakness? Write down specifically what you will do to enhance the quality that most needs developing in your life.
(Source: Portrait of a Leader, bk 1, pp 17-30)