My Leadership Principles: #1
July 6, 2009 2 Comments
#1 SPEAK FIRST
Have you ever paid attention to who speaks to who first? When you see someone you know do you wait for them to greet you? Do you usually do the greeting? Do you ignore people? My opinion is that leaders should speak first. Followers wait to be spoken to. I understand this because I used to be a follower. And even now that I see myself as a leader I forget that this simple principle is so important. So I’ve been training myself to always speak to people first.
When leaders wait to be spoken to it:
- Seems like insecurity. We can’t be intimidated by other people. We are leaders.
- Seems like we don’t care about people. Our number one mission is people!
- Seems passive. Leaders are active in social settings. We shouldn’t wait for people to come to us.
- It just doesn’t seem right. Leaders should be set environments.
Speak first. I’m working hard on this. It’s just a good leadership principle to live by.
Jason, You could not be more on target my son!! Early in my ministry/career, I had to work real hard to overcome this. For one thing, some people just don’t seem interested and/or engaged UNTIL they are spoken to. I am basically a shy person. No one believes that but it is so true. We people say I “work” a room, oh yeah, I am really working because it still does not come naturally. But, that is what a leader does. And, I DO love my “work.”
I have gone into small churches where I knew if I did not speak first, literally I may not even be spoken to. Yet, when I get up and start to speak to people FIRST, the whole atmosphere changes. It sets the tone for the service. I had to learn that the hard way. I used to complain about churches that did not treat me well or were just rude. I don’t even wait for them anymore. I do my best, with God’s help, to lead them. It is really the same in every setting.
Thanks, Jason, for your strong leadeship!! Dad
Thanks Dad. You have modeled this well!