4 Aspirational Pathways To Help You Keep Growing as a Leader

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Experiment, take a risk, try something new. If you’re not ready to “bet the farm” that’s OK, but try something. Maybe a new experience with your family, an innovative idea at work, or a stretch goal for you personally.

If you only pick the fruit you can reach from standing on the ground, you will miss some of the best fruit. You may need a ladder so you can reach. What ladder do you need? Get it.

3. Connect Deeper 

God designed the body of Christ to be in authentic relationship. This means being consistently connected to people who know and love the real you as you pursue Jesus together. This is especially important for leaders.

There is something powerful about deep human connection. When the truth of our life is fully known, we open the door to healthy freedom.

In contrast, self-protection, image-management, and controlling behavior leads to an unhealthy lack of intimacy and we can lose self-awareness because we have no human benchmarks.

Where does deeper connection start?

It begins with honest conversation in a group of like-minded peers and or friends. Don’t make it complicated. You can gather, for example, 3-5 trusted people and meet regularly. It’s not a counseling group, but you do offer and receive wise counsel. It’s a small group committed to friendship, biblical truth, honest conversation and growth. (And having fun.) This is not meant to be drudgery, done right, it is truly life-giving.

Who in your life knows everything about you?

4. Follow Closer

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. (Matthew 26:57-58)

That verse, “Peter followed him at a distance…” has always haunted me.

Jesus, where might I be doing the same thing?

As a Christian leader, to follow Jesus closer is less of an aspiration and more of an essential, but it’s an essential we can aspire to. It’s an invitation that we are wise to say yes to.

Whether you have been walking with Jesus for a relatively short time or you’ve been a follower for decades, we all have room to grow closer.

Following Jesus is core to our lives. We know the “basics” including things such as worship, prayer, serving, and obedience. However, it not about works, it’s the gift of a relationship to be savored and enjoyed.

It is this continually growing relationship that allows soul-level change and transformation to take place, which helps take your leadership to another level.

Following Jesus more closely is the pathway that allows all areas of our growth to make progress, especially as a leader.

Following Jesus is the path to awakening spiritual authority through servanthood. Serving others engages the power of the Holy Spirit in our life and leadership. While Jesus does expect us to do our part, this also allows Him to do what only He can do.

In what one way, over the next three months, might you grow closer to Jesus?

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission. 

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Dan Reilandhttp://www.injoy.com/newsletters/aboutnews/
Dr. Dan Reiland serves as Executive Pastor at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He previously partnered with John Maxwell for 20 years, first as Executive Pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, then as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at INJOY. He and Dr. Maxwell still enjoy partnering on a number of church related projects together.

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