In each of us lies the power to do great things. It has been woven into the core of our being. At the beginning of time, we were designed by a powerful and creative God to represent His intelligence and greatness. Like children who inherit the traits of their parents, we cannot help but act out the things that identify our Creator in us.
Creativity. Love. Compassion. Hope. Intelligence. Greatness.
But there is a darkness within that consumes us. At the beginning of the world, our representatives selfishly and carelessly took their own destinies into their hands. We have struggled to be better than the betrayal that Adam and Eve laid on us. But we couldn't escape the curse that was placed on us at the tree.
But our Creator wouldn't leave us to our own destruction. Our father has sent our brother the King, to finally end the reign of the Evil One over our lives. Jesus restored the broken relationship we had with our Master by emptying Himself on the cross. We have been released from the payment that we once owed. We have been bought with a terrible price. As soon as our debt was paid, we were set free from the curse that imprisoned our greatness.
Now the only thing that limits our greatness is ourselves. The curse that was started at the tree and was ended at the cross, still stains our hearts. Insecurities, paranoia, narcissism, incompetence are only a few plagues that infects our leadership and limits our greatness.
I don't mean to sound religious, but it is so important for us, as leaders to understand our past and believe that that we are truly set free from it. There is nothing that is out of our reach with God's help.
Everything rises and falls on leadership. In the book, “Exponential” by Dave and Jon Ferguson, there is a list of attitudes and behaviors that limit greatness in leadership. I have added some of my own that I have seen over the years:
- I wait for someone to tell me what to do rather than taking initiative myself.
- I spend too much time talking about how things should be different.
- I avoid accountability with my work so that I am not responsible when things go wrong.
- I blame the context, surroundings, or other people for my current situation.
- I am more concerned about being cool or accepted than doing the right thing.
- I seek consensus rather than casting a vision for a preferable future.
- I comply with the leadership in public but disagree with the direction behind close doors.
- I am not taking any significant risks.
- I accept the status quo as the way it’s always been and always will be.
- I start protecting my reputation instead of opening myself up to opposition.
- I discourage others from high performance or taking risks because it makes me look bad.
- I procrastinate to avoid making a tough call.
- I talk to others about the problem rather than taking it to the person responsible.
- I don’t feel like I’m accountable for anything significant.
- I assume that most people are out to get me or to harm my work.
- I ask for way too many opinions before taking action.
These are some of the things that can limit our greatness in leadership. Now that the ball is in our court; God has given us the ability to grow, what are we going to do? I challenge you to continue to work past anything that limits your fullest potential that God has for you.
