June 2010
Leadership Development Ideas -The Leaders Pathway: A vital walk with God
(Reflections from "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels)
How important is the supernatural component of leadership-the ‘God part?’ Beyond the gift of leadership, the skills and talents required, beyond the decades of experience, is there anything more that we as leaders need? Bill Hybels thinks so, and discusses a number of critical ‘sacred pathways’ that describe different ways-or paths-that leaders can feel particularly close to God. We are not all the same. We have different personalities and operating styles. Which of these is yours?
- The Relational Pathway: The primary pathway to God is relational. When leaders who naturally walk this path isolate themselves and try to go it alone with God, spiritual dullness results. But when they inject a strong dose of relationship in their pursuit of God, they start to thrive spiritually.
- The Intellectural Pathway: These leaders thrive on their minds being fully engaged before they can make significant spiritual progress. Heart warming stories don’t do it for them-they need substance. If this is your style, then feed your mind and your heart will follow.
- The Serving Pathway: These folks feel consistently close to God when they’re quietly and consistently laboring in kingdom vineyards. These people are the ‘doers.’ If you take serving away from them, you’d close the door on their pathway to God.
- The Contemplative Pathway: This style seems to be able to spend almost unlimited time in solitude. They have rich inner worlds, are creative, and are the ones who write the songs and the books that stir our hearts about God. They are the deep thinkers and need to protect their thought life.
- The Activist Pathway: They folks are at their best at a speed of Mach 2-a highly challenging environment that pushes them to the absolute edge of their potential, and is where they feel closest to God. Don’t feel sorry for this type of leader because he is soooo busy. He’s loving it!
- The Creation Pathway: The nature-lovers of leadership, these folks grow best and relate to God most closely when away from the city and in the forests, deserts, mountains, oceans, or beaches. Being in this environment dramatically increases their awareness of God, and they can draw direct spiritual meaning from nature.
- The Worship Pathway: Give these people a dozen worship CD’s and a long drive down a coastal highway, and they have a hard time keeping their hands on the steering wheel because they are raising them in worship to God! These leaders feel closest to God when they are in the midst of worshiping God in song and praise.
Did you find your particular leadership pathway? Then Hybels suggests that you focus on it and enjoy God in a manner that suits who He made you to be!
Read the other articles in this issue:
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