Replenish: Developing Spiritually Healthy Leaders

I want those who know me best to respect me most.  OUCH.  Would the people who know me best (wife, kids, friends, church staff) have the most respect for me?  I started thinking about this issue of respect for those of us who lead in ministry and about 3 respect busters.  

1. Dishonesty.  The people closest to us hear us the most.  They have a front row seat to watch our lives and our leadership.  They see it when we are inconsistent, when we “fudge” on the truth, and when we exaggerate the facts.  Dishonesty is a “slippery slope” and we need to treat it with severity in our lives.  Tell those you lead that you desire to have complete integrity as a leader.  Then ask for their help… any time they see you being dishonest, let them know that you want them to come to you.  And, be quick to confess and apologize when dishonesty is spotted.

2. Ego. James 3:16 says “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.”  Where there is selfish ambition (ego), you WILL find disorder and every kind of evil.  Those words are so true.  But ambition is so seductive.  It strokes our pride and fuels our ego… it makes us feel significant.  But it is a poison.  When it is always about “me”, the people I lead will soon begin to lose respect.  And though we cloak our ambition in kingdom language, the people closest to us will sniff it out.  If you really want to get “gutsy” with this one, go to a couple of trusted friends and ask them to serve as “ego patrol” in your life.  

3. Mistreatment of people.  One of the quickest ways for you to lose the respect of those you lead, is to have a utilitarian attitude towards people. They become positions rather than people.  You start seeing them as key leaders, influencers, giving units, potential, and part of your network rather than Phil, Julie or Dave.  Do you see the difference?  In one paradigm, people are viewed and valued according to what they can contribute to our organizational goals.  In the other paradigm, people are viewed and valued first as individuals who have inherent value apart from what they contribute.
It might be a good idea to select one of these 3 respect busters and commit to really work on it over this next month.  How about it?