I am leader born of the blood and the mud. (I say that with great humility.) Leadership has never come easy for me. People tell me I am a pretty good leader but that's because I've had to work hard to become one.
I grew up in a leaderless house. My parents were divorced when I was young and so I was more interested in surviving than I was leading. When I was an adolescent I rebelled against anything that smacked of leadership. When I joined the Army I found out that I was a pretty good leader. The Army was hard but I learned that I was a leader. And when I transitioned into the business world I continued to grow as a leaders. I also learned to discern good and bad leadership.
As I found my way back to God I encountered incredible leaders in the local church who helped me grow even more. It wasn't always easy, but their investment in me helped me to take my leadership to the next level. Many of the leaders I encountered have had a profound effect on me. I followed several to Kansas City to help plant Restore.
Leadership is critical--especially in church planting. We all get that.
But how you become a leader is as important is how effective you are. Some people are born leaders. I've met them. They make it look easy. They're something about them that compels you to want to follow them. Call it 'it.' Call it that 'special something.' It doesn't matter. Some people have it and you know it when you see it.
But most of us need to work at it and that's good news.
And I am learning that each of us have an environment where we are molded into better leaders. For me, it's climbing into the blood and mud. I learn best when the situation is dire or when the stakes are great. That's when I can really shine. It's not always pleasant but there's no place I'd rather be.
If you're a leader, don't be afraid of the blood and the mud. For some of us, it's where we learn our best leadership lessons.
I'd love to hear more about your leadership journey.
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