Wednesday, June 21, 2017
I'm still startled by the nightmare I had this morning, over losing my favourite person to marriage, but I have other thoughts to pen down today.
I was in a reflective mood earlier on, hearkening back to the days when I struggled to find work. I was hustling and truly out of my comfort zone when I spoke to people much more senior, much more experienced than me.
O how time has changed me. You see, the idea of respecting elders has always been quite paramount for me, much often to my detriment as I would defer to elders and not voice out my thoughts for fear of stepping on their toes. I would put their opinions way ahead of my own, even if the situation is such that I know better. It's been almost 3 years since the period of struggle for me to find work, and perspectives have changed. Much as it is important to respect elders, it is important that I see them as humans as well, fallible, having their own assumptions, limitations in knowledge. They are indeed people who struggle to figure out their way in life as much as I do, and knowing more does not automatically put them on a pedestal or a position of preeminence, so much so that all opinions are deferred to that individual.
Having gone through the last church camp, I've begun to see how leadership is supposed to work. And on this topic, which I was supposed to share my thoughts, I will lay out, with my current level of understanding and experience, what defines good leadership.
1. Service and Stewardship
"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;" (Matthew 20:26).
At the core of it, leadership is service. Jesus set this perfect example of servant leadership, serving others and putting them ahead for their benefit. Anything else that glorifies self over the Lord, is pride. Leadership is nothing about gaining a preeminent position in life. We are all put in positions of greater influence and power to do more good and to glorify God. After all, we are ultimately servants of God. So use that talent wisely! To be self-serving is to be selfish and prideful, that is sin. So a true leader is one that serves with humility, with sincerity, and with love.
When we talk about stewardship, we talk about responsibility. Ownership of the task at hand is what a leader should do. This is proper stewardship; to be able to take what was given, and do it well. Yet at the same time, as leaders lead, they are likely to be led as well. It is important to be clear on the responsibilities so that the leader does not overstep his or her boundaries. A good steward knows what he is taking care of, and what he does not manage, lest he by conceit or foolish endeavour, step on the toes of others, spoiling the good broth.
2. Knowledge and Experience
A leader is one who leads. It is important for the leader to know more than those whom he or she leads. The people in the group follow that individual, so definitely the leader must have a clearer picture of what is going on in each of his or her followers' duties. It is essential that the leader has a bigger picture and a clearer understanding so he can guide those around him or her. It does not mean he knows everything to each minute detail, but knowing what is important in order for the followers to function well in their roles, to meet the desired objective.
3. Confidence, Integrity, and Resolve
The world is full of people who lead lives which are unique and different, no two the same. Different personalities, different thoughts, different cultures, different ideas. To top it all off, every single person is sinful and has a wicked nature in them who wants to be self-serving and self-pleasing. Just by existing, we already have different views and ideas on a certain topic or matter. That creates the inevitable conflict between people, worsened to the nth degree by sin. People will have many opinions and ideas, many suggestions, many approaches. It is critical for the leader to have that quiet, assured confidence, to know what to do next. And even if the idea is not the best, or if mistakes were made, the leader must have the integrity and the resolve to own up for that mistake. Resolve and confidence are key, because it is how the leader projects himself as someone who is reliable, trustworthy, and able to protect (stewardship) those (or the tasks) that are under his or her care. It is knowing when to say yes, when to say no, when to say stop, when to say go, and most importantly, when to listen. It is built on humility, sincerity, and not least, knowledge and experience which gives confidence and resolve.
4. Longsuffering and Endurance
Longsuffering refers to having a long fuse, being able to remain in control (temperance) and in check even in times of extended difficulty, in pressing times of stress, in times of anger. Leaders are made through the furnace of trials. In the simplest sense, God puts people through trials that they may be purified, that their faith in God becomes stronger. Trials maketh the man. It makes the person able to endure more pain, more difficulty, more stress. And for the Christian most importantly, it allows him or her to lean on God for that help. A leader will face challenges within his followers, without in the external environment, and within himself. It is extremely important that he or she is able to manage the stressors thrown at him or her well. It is the ability to be able to thrive under stress and pressure, having a good attitude in spite of difficulty. For the Christian, it is the reliance and faith in God.
The list is very much incomplete, with many things that can be added on. But as I reflect upon this, it gives me confidence that I can say no, in a kind and positive way, it gives me confidence that with God, I am protected and guided. It gives me confidence that I have grown over these years, knowing better what to do, how to manage a situation, how to be a better and more humble leader. Why do I reflect? It is because it gives me comfort that I have grown in my little ways, and I must thank God for that.
|| posted by Kuan Hui
I was in a reflective mood earlier on, hearkening back to the days when I struggled to find work. I was hustling and truly out of my comfort zone when I spoke to people much more senior, much more experienced than me.
O how time has changed me. You see, the idea of respecting elders has always been quite paramount for me, much often to my detriment as I would defer to elders and not voice out my thoughts for fear of stepping on their toes. I would put their opinions way ahead of my own, even if the situation is such that I know better. It's been almost 3 years since the period of struggle for me to find work, and perspectives have changed. Much as it is important to respect elders, it is important that I see them as humans as well, fallible, having their own assumptions, limitations in knowledge. They are indeed people who struggle to figure out their way in life as much as I do, and knowing more does not automatically put them on a pedestal or a position of preeminence, so much so that all opinions are deferred to that individual.
Having gone through the last church camp, I've begun to see how leadership is supposed to work. And on this topic, which I was supposed to share my thoughts, I will lay out, with my current level of understanding and experience, what defines good leadership.
1. Service and Stewardship
"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;" (Matthew 20:26).
At the core of it, leadership is service. Jesus set this perfect example of servant leadership, serving others and putting them ahead for their benefit. Anything else that glorifies self over the Lord, is pride. Leadership is nothing about gaining a preeminent position in life. We are all put in positions of greater influence and power to do more good and to glorify God. After all, we are ultimately servants of God. So use that talent wisely! To be self-serving is to be selfish and prideful, that is sin. So a true leader is one that serves with humility, with sincerity, and with love.
When we talk about stewardship, we talk about responsibility. Ownership of the task at hand is what a leader should do. This is proper stewardship; to be able to take what was given, and do it well. Yet at the same time, as leaders lead, they are likely to be led as well. It is important to be clear on the responsibilities so that the leader does not overstep his or her boundaries. A good steward knows what he is taking care of, and what he does not manage, lest he by conceit or foolish endeavour, step on the toes of others, spoiling the good broth.
2. Knowledge and Experience
A leader is one who leads. It is important for the leader to know more than those whom he or she leads. The people in the group follow that individual, so definitely the leader must have a clearer picture of what is going on in each of his or her followers' duties. It is essential that the leader has a bigger picture and a clearer understanding so he can guide those around him or her. It does not mean he knows everything to each minute detail, but knowing what is important in order for the followers to function well in their roles, to meet the desired objective.
3. Confidence, Integrity, and Resolve
The world is full of people who lead lives which are unique and different, no two the same. Different personalities, different thoughts, different cultures, different ideas. To top it all off, every single person is sinful and has a wicked nature in them who wants to be self-serving and self-pleasing. Just by existing, we already have different views and ideas on a certain topic or matter. That creates the inevitable conflict between people, worsened to the nth degree by sin. People will have many opinions and ideas, many suggestions, many approaches. It is critical for the leader to have that quiet, assured confidence, to know what to do next. And even if the idea is not the best, or if mistakes were made, the leader must have the integrity and the resolve to own up for that mistake. Resolve and confidence are key, because it is how the leader projects himself as someone who is reliable, trustworthy, and able to protect (stewardship) those (or the tasks) that are under his or her care. It is knowing when to say yes, when to say no, when to say stop, when to say go, and most importantly, when to listen. It is built on humility, sincerity, and not least, knowledge and experience which gives confidence and resolve.
4. Longsuffering and Endurance
Longsuffering refers to having a long fuse, being able to remain in control (temperance) and in check even in times of extended difficulty, in pressing times of stress, in times of anger. Leaders are made through the furnace of trials. In the simplest sense, God puts people through trials that they may be purified, that their faith in God becomes stronger. Trials maketh the man. It makes the person able to endure more pain, more difficulty, more stress. And for the Christian most importantly, it allows him or her to lean on God for that help. A leader will face challenges within his followers, without in the external environment, and within himself. It is extremely important that he or she is able to manage the stressors thrown at him or her well. It is the ability to be able to thrive under stress and pressure, having a good attitude in spite of difficulty. For the Christian, it is the reliance and faith in God.
The list is very much incomplete, with many things that can be added on. But as I reflect upon this, it gives me confidence that I can say no, in a kind and positive way, it gives me confidence that with God, I am protected and guided. It gives me confidence that I have grown over these years, knowing better what to do, how to manage a situation, how to be a better and more humble leader. Why do I reflect? It is because it gives me comfort that I have grown in my little ways, and I must thank God for that.
|| posted by Kuan Hui
[top]