Tweet There are many leadership mistakes we make as pastors. I’m certain I make one nearly everyday. This post is only about one mistake. Only one, but one of the…
Read More
Tweet In full disclosure, sometimes pastors preach on issues we haven’t mastered. The same is true of bloggers. Sometimes we write about issues we are still working to develop in…
I write a lot about introversion, because I’m an introvert. Introversion is a personality preference, based on the way a person has been programmed by experiences and life. In very simple terms, it means we prefer a world of inner thoughts and reflections over a world of social engagements and interactions with others. It’s not that we don’t like people, it’s that if we had a preference of how to use our time, we would mostly spend it in quieter or more controllable environments. Chances are you have lots of introverts on your team, in your organization, as your customers, or even in your family.
I will often get requests to write about extroversion. (Extroverted people are seldom shy about asking for what they want!) The fact is, however, that I’m not much help on understanding extroversion. Perhaps someone can guest post here sometime.
I do want to accommodate the requests, however, so here is an attempt. Allow me to share 7 ways that extroverts can help introverts:
Tweet I’ve been studying leadership for years, and share so many thoughts about it here. These are more observations than they are tips, and they are random, but I’ve found…
Tweet This is for all my pastor friends. It may not make as much sense to readers who haven’t served in that role. One thing that sets me apart from…
Tweet As I write this, we are supposedly in spring on the calendar, but today is a cold day. There is actually snow in the forecast this week. A couple…
Tweet Sometimes the smallest changes reap the biggest results. Over the years I’ve come to realize I’ve often done things the wrong way. I’ve tried to make huge changes in…
Tweet I have a heart for pastors. Maybe it stems from the fact I spent more years as a layperson – deacon, committee member, Sunday school teacher – than I…
Tweet I hate gossip. I realize hate is a strong word, but it’s the one I prefer here. I’ve seen so many negative results caused by gossip. Gossip happens in…
I read an interesting story from the life of the Biblical character of David again recently. The story says a great deal about leadership and what is required to successfully lead.
Here’s what I read:
When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” he inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”The LORD answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah. But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!” 1 Samuel 23:1-3
Notice David had a vision…a word from God. This was prior to David being the reigning king. He had been anointed king by God, but did not yet have the position. He was hiding from Saul. He had no kingdom of his own. This new assignment was scary, his army was questioning him, and the future was unknown.
Have you experienced a situation like this as a leader?
Thankfully David’s story had a happy ending: (Imagine that…God put him up to it.)
Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. 1 Samuel 23:4-5
This story prompts some thoughts on leadership: