Needed: Less Talk And More Actual Leadership

I recently heard about a guy who is getting a graduate degree in leadership and is working on his second book on leadership that he hopes to get published next year. Here’s the problem: the guy has never led much of anything before. He says he wants to, he believes he is gifted to, but to this point, he has yet to establish any kind of track record that shows the fruit of faithful, effective leadership in and through his life.

It got me thinking…lot’s of people in our day love to talk about, write about, and teach about all kinds of interesting topics and ideas, and “leadership” is at the top of the list. Need proof? Just type “leadership” into Amazon or “leadership” into Spotify or iTunes and see just how many books and podcasts pop up. I’m not saying this is necessarily bad, in fact, I get it…leadership is an important and interesting topic to think, talk, and write about.

The thing is, what we really need, and I mean REALLY need, in the church and society in general, are not more books or podcasts on leadership, as helpful as those might be. We have plenty. What we need are actual leaders, leading others…leading churches, leading businesses, leading academic institutions, leading ministries/organizations, leading families…and leading them well for the glory of God…

…not just talking and theorizing about leadership, but actually leading others with conviction, compassion, courage, and character.

All of us need to keep learning and growing as leaders. I know I do! But let us remember this: nothing will grow you, challenge you, mature you, and cause others to want to learn from you more than actually leading well over time.

So my encouragement is to start right where you are. Ask God to show you where and how and who He wants you to lead in this season of your life. Be faithful in this. Stay humble in this. Trust God in this. And then wait on the Lord to open other doors He wants you to walk through to grow you as a leader.

Let God lead you as you seek to lead others.