Leadership, Lordship, Laboring
We were blessed to have the opportunity
to have Tom Yeakley join us as our keynote speaker this past April at the
Cedarmore Retreat Center just outside of Louisville, KY.
Tom is one of 3 Sphere directors for
the Navigators (vice-presidents) and has been very influential in the area of
leadership development for the Navigators ministry- not only in the United
States but also abroad.
One of the things that I walked away
with continuing to think more about was on Tom’s 1st Message on the Privilege
of Leadership. The first part that
generated MUCH healthy discussion was in the area of Leadership and ‘Followership’. In our world today, leadership is looked upon
in a very good way- but also ‘hyper-celebrated’. This is done in such a way that the idea of ‘followership’
is really seems to have no value whatsoever.
But in God’s economy…. The follower AND the leader are BOTH valued highly. Particularly in the military culture- this
idea can be lost. But as men and women
who are pursuing God and helping others to pursue God while being immersed in a
military culture- it is important to remember to keep God’s perspective on
value.
Good teaching on leadership is a sought
after issue for us- as many times it is a topic that just isn’t mentioned
enough. Therefore we were VERY grateful
to have Tom and Dan Daetz come and join us for our conference and to talk about
this topic. Here are the 4 points Tom
made in his first message.
4
Components of Good Leadership
1. Set
Direction
2. Align
Resources to Direction
3. Inspire
and Motivate
4. Manage
the Work of Others
I particularly enjoyed the 1st
point on setting direction. Setting
Direction is the point that answers the ‘why’ we do what we do. If we can’t help others to see the ‘WHY’
behind what we’re doing and what we’re trying to help others move toward- they
won’t decide to do it. They won’t put
their own discretionary effort toward these goals. But if we can help those we are discipling
and leading in gaining clarity toward God’s objectives and goals- each young
disciple can move forward with their own conviction, energy, and creativity in
reaching the World for Christ. Therefore, we must each continue to move forward in our own personal walk with God- so that we can continue to point people to Christ- the real, personal, God that we know.... not some distant God who is uninterested and uninvolved. As we continue personally with Christ, we can connect those who God is allowing us to influence, to connect with Him personally as well.
