The Exciting Task of Self-Leadership
“Paying close attention to yourself means managing your heart and your relationships, beginning with your relationship with God.”
I just returned from India where one of the topics I taught was on “Self-Leadership”. It doesn’t sound very grand to be put in charge of managing yourself, does it? Yet every leader finds the need to do it. When you think about it, leading ourselves well helps qualify us to lead others well. But it has also become evident to me that the broader my responsibility, the more precise and careful I must be in leading myself. Let me explain:
Generally, we cannot lead others where we have not been ourselves. And we will reproduce who we are before we reproduce anything else. Self-leadership brings focus to our lives so we don’t waste time. Paul told Timothy to pay close attention to two things:
1 Timothy 4: 16 - Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Paying close attention to yourself means managing your heart and your relationships, beginning with your relationship with God. It also means managing your time and your energy, so that you peak when and where you are needed most. For this reason, leaders should ask these questions periodically in order to keep our priorities and focus on what is important.
What am I doing that does not need to get done?
What am I NOT doing that needs to get done?
What am I doing that someone else could do?
What am I doing that no one else can do?
Jesus also challenges us to be faithful in three things so that we are qualified for an increase in responsibility.
Luke 16:10 - “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12“And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
Those who are faithful in small things will be faithful in larger things. The question here is “Can God trust us?” We should not despise the day of small things. Remember when you were finally old enough to use the family car? Most of us were given parameters of where we could go, who we could take with us, and what time we needed to come home. It’s just part of earning trust for greater things (like long trips). We must see the Christian life and our leadership role as a long obedience in the same direction.
We must learn to be responsible with money before spiritual things. The Bible has a lot to say about money. It may not seem so, but it is very spiritual. Learning to be wise and responsible in the way we use it is important. Generally, leaders will treat the finances of their organization the way they manage their own finances. So, things like saving and controlling spending and debt are crucial for the health of you and your organization. Don’t make “living by faith” an excuse for being irresponsible in the area of finances.
We must be faithful in that which is another’s before we are ready to have our own. This is also a matter of trust. Ideally, we learn by serving another before having to do it ourselves. The best leaders are also good followers. This is why God places us under spiritual authorities like mentors, coaches, or spiritual fathers and mothers. It is for our own good and development. If we embrace those relationships and learn faithfulness, God will reward us with a wider sphere of influence. Because he trusts us!
