Leading at Home

I recently received a glowing annual review for my performance from my board of directors. I had also received some compliments from various staff members for my visionary leadership. Beyond this, I had experienced some success in some initiatives with other leaders. All in all I was considering myself to be a pretty good leader. Then I had some discussions initiated by my wife regarding my leadership on the home front. The marks were not so high out of the limelight with the person, who knows me the best. This raises an important question: What is the essence of true leadership? While it certainly includes one’s performance in the workplace and one’s efforts in the public arena, it also encompasses how one operates in private with those who know us the best. One word to describe this is integrity. A verse of scripture that comes to my mind along these lines is Psalm 101:2: I will live a life of integrity in my own home. How would those who know you the best evaluate you as a leader?

Do Leaders Need Encouragment?

In my recent involvement in a CEO event I was reminded of the need to be around other leaders for mutual encouragement and learning. Most of us left with a desire to do it more often. Leaders tend to be initiators and in some cases pioneers, who are focused on implementation with limited desire for meaningless meetings. They need safe places to interact about the “stuff” of leadership. One of the issues that came out of this time was the need to develop next generation leaders, who will lead the way when many of us are off the scene. Effective leaders operate with foresight and a desire to leave a lasting legacy of other leaders. Jesus Christ led the way with His investment into the twelve, the three, and the one. Should not each of us be doing the same? We mustn’t allow busyness in leadership to hinder the development of future leaders. Your thoughts?