Leadership Is…

The Christian Servant Leader, the leader of integrity, is first and foremost a servant. Servant Leaders are known by their actions. Their reputation precedes and follows them.

Encouraging and motivating staff is like catching butterflies. If you go in driving like a bulldozer, running, shouting and demanding, the butterflies will be gone long before you arrive. The same with people, in the organizational sense. If you try to demand, force, or coerce staff to be motivated. The people will be gone. Remember the old cliché, ‘Terminations will continue until motivation improves’.

Volunteers and staff develop and flourish in an atmosphere of positive relationships and trust. Encourage your employees and volunteers to innovate and be creative without fear of failure. Ask for their ideas. Praise others when they perform well. Set and encourage accomplishable goals. Then, follow through on suggestions and build on the positive aspects of the work.

Motivation can only be built and encouraged in an environment free of threats, put-downs and accusations. Staff need to freely express ideas and concerns without fear. Do you encourage new ideas? Look at your unique style. Do you unduly restrict and inhibit? People are not going to be enthused, excited or motivated to work within an organization full of criticism and put downs.

“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” (Proverbs 11:14 NIV)

Laurie D. Kennedy

Yours in Service,

Laurie D. Kennedy

Author

Leadership Is … Devotions for Servant Leaders

Leadership Is … Serving with Integrity

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