Leaders Do

            Upon examining the ten leadership principles in our book today, I must pick which I think I am best at.  These ten are:

1.  Focus Precedes Success

2.  Burden + Passion + Vision = Mission

3.  Risk-Taking

4.  Planning and Follow-Through

5.  Navigating Obstacles

6.  Intentional Communication

7.  Conflict Resolution

8.  Never Underestimate a Champion

9.  Finish Strong

10.  Leading Other Leaders

Thinking about these I believe that I am naturally the best at Focus.  In little things, I often lack focus, but in the big things my focus is immovable.  I know that I belong to Jesus and that He will guide me.  I know that I want someday to be a pastor.  These things refuse to change, even through years of bombardment.  In the dishroom, I know what needs to be done, and I am focused on the dishroom until it is complete.

            Secondly we were asked to discern which area we are weakest in.  I think that Risk-Taking is likely my worst.  I don’t like to take risks, nor do I desire to do something until I am totally sure it will work.  Thus I make plans slowly, I make decisions slowly, because I desire to insure that they remain, that they work.  When I decide to do something and it fails, that drives me nuts.  I beat myself over the head and try to frantically learn every possible lesson from that failure so that I can avoid making the same mistake again.  The more I fail, the slower I make decisions because the more things I want to consider before making a potentially failed decision.  Temporary things drive me insane, and I seek permanent order, consistency, and success.  Risk-taking is very difficult for me.

            As to how I may improve in this area, I have no idea.  Slow decisions and careful calculation preceding all decisions is ingrained in who I am and it will be very difficult to uproot.  If it is the will of God, may He do it in His way and timing, and grant me grace when I fail, as He has so many times in the past.  Truly He is longsuffering through my many sins and limitations. 

            Seriously, as I sit here and think, ‘How can I risk more, developing that skill and principle,’ my very being revolts at the idea.  I can barely fathom taking a risk of any kind unless I can carefully calculate it.  Although I suppose I do take some risks.  Many things I do will have consequences that I don’t want or that could be very bad for me.  I do them anyway because I think that this is the will of God.  But when it comes to acting under His will, in my ignorance I am cautious and slow, and indeed only the grace of God could ever make me take a hasty risk.