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How to Develop the Indispensable Quality of Leadership

For example, you may sense your calling to be a senior pastor, but for now, you are on staff in relative obscurity. Embrace it. Take this time to grow yourself from the inside out. Let God increase your territory when it’s time.

3) Accept rather than avoid life’s difficulties with courage and resilience.

I was listening to the singer-songwriter Jewel speak at an event in Washington D.C. last month. She made a captivating statement. Jewel said, “You can’t outrun pain.” That is so true, and yet we sometimes try, don’t we?

In some ways that makes sense, it’s normal and natural to want to avoid that which is difficult, painful and stretches your endurance. The point here is not to seek that which is difficult, but accept it when it comes. That builds character.

It’s rarely in the heroic moment that your character is developed, that’s when it’s tested. It’s in the daily decisions that character is formed; it’s in the difficult moments and tough challenges that we’d sometimes rather avoid.

They can be things such as a confrontational and challenging conversation, a high-risk decision or confessing to sin. Accepting the full weight of these moments develops your character, mainly when you do it in a way that is pleasing to God.

4) Pursue consistency as a virtue of strength

Unfortunately, consistency is often thought of as boring, inflexible or lacking creativity. But consistency is not meant to reflect a lack of drive, risk or stirring things up when needed.

Consistency is a core character trait, not a measurement of competence.

  • Consistency says you keep your promises; you do what you say you’ll do, that’s character—things as simple as returning a phone call or showing up on time.
  • Consistency allows people to approach you not because your emotions are boring, but because you are a safe person to talk to, and you can be counted on.
  • Consistency is a primary avenue to trust. Being trustworthy is core to character. For example, can the people you lead trust you to make decisions in their best interest?

People aren’t looking for a superhero to lead them; they are looking for someone they can count on.

Consistency requires discipline and self-leadership. How would you rate your leadership consistency?

5) Ask God for wisdom and strength.

We would all crack under the pressure of leadership if it wasn’t for the fact that God is with us. He grants wisdom and strength if we ask.

When you pray and ask for wisdom and strength, that wisdom gives perspective that develops your character. That strength of character helps keep you from “cracking” and doing something that betrays your character.

We all soon come to the end of our ability, and the faster we turn to dependence on God, the better. He does for us (in us) what we can’t do for ourselves. From overcoming temptation to the most critical decision you will make this year, God grants wisdom and strength.

We have to step up first, but God fills in the gap between our ability/inability and our responsibilities.

This process is vital to the building of your character. God’s wisdom and strength deepen your resolve always to do the next right thing.

This article originally appeared here.