As a Christian leader, you have a choice.
You may be a Pastor facing a leadership decision for your future or for your church. You may be a business leader facing a growth decline or staffing decision. You may be a college student questioning course and career decisions. Or, let me illustrate a phrase from one of my mentors. You may be in the third, third of your life.
If you had to make a choice today between strategy and character, which would you choose?
Your strategy is a plan to accomplish your vision, mission or goals all based on defined values. You’ll want to utilize your resources effectively, building teams, all working together creating your future.
Your character starts in your moral values that distinguish you or your team, making you unique from others. Your ethical traits of honesty, personal and corporate values, with care and consistency all lead to a positive uplifting life of integrity.
“Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.” (1 Timothy 4:15-16 MSG)
“…when it comes to the people who are responsible for making … organizations healthy, it’s all about character. Yes, character” (Irwin & Lencioni).
“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy” (Norman Schwarzkopf).
We each have a choice. In fact as Christian leaders in ministry, business or college, we make the choice daily to live a life of strategy or character.
Leadership is … choosing character daily.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
