Leadershipbydesign
News From LBD
December 2016 Volume 6 Issue 12
      Leadership Lesson at Christmas

    Christmas is one of the most wonderful seasons in the world. It is a time when people gather together to celebrate with family and friends. It is a joyous season full of festivity, joy, love and giving.

    For Christians, Christmas is not only a regular holiday; it is also a day that symbolizes God's love toward mankind. When the Christmas story is examined closely, we also find lessons on leadership.
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    Have you ever wondered why Jesus, as the Son of God, stayed in the womb for 9 months, worked as a carpenter until he was 30 years old, ministered for years to people who didn't always believe in him and finally, died on a cross?  Couldn't God have just sent Him to earth as a king or other super human and accomplish the same thing? 

    Perhaps, however this is also a story about people. God knew that to save the people, Jesus needed to be a more caring leader of people. He n eeded to be common, live with the people, work with the people and understand the people. Perhaps this is why His birth is celebrated by so many people around the world. It's also a story about them.

    John Maxwell once wrote that "People don't care how much a leader knows until they know how much the leader cares." Leadership skills must be supported by a desire to understand and care for the people. Without it, it is not leadership, it is just a title.

    Leadership is not about the leader. Leadership is about the people! Leadership is getting people to believe in themselves and what they can accomplish for the benefit of all.That's why there are so many leadership crises in government, business and local communities. Leadership is about character, and character starts when leaders first care for their people, then give of themselves for the benefit of people, just like Jesus did.

    Here are a couple of things that we can learn from Jesus on how leaders can care for their people:


 
Jesus left His comfortable position to help people. As leaders, do we sit comfortably in our position while our people flounder or we do we roll up our sleeves and help our people?


 Jesus served his people instead of being served.

Many people think that leadership is a high and mighty position where people bow to them. Yes, formal leadership comes with some authority, but it is not an authority to rule, but rather an authority to serve people. Do you lead because you want to be great or, you want your people to be great?


 

This Christmas, make a commitment to be 
a leader for the people. 

 

What Leaders Are Reading

The Bible: The Gospel according to Luke

Luke is the longest of the Gospels. One of Luke's interests here is to show that Jesus loved all kinds of people. Luke tells us in the first four verses that this is the complete and true story of Jesus' life from his birth, death, resurrection and ascension. There are a number of lessons that can be learned from this great, yet common, leader of people.  
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Power and Authority
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Successful leaders are individuals with high levels of personal power.
   
Unfortunately there are many individuals placed in a position of authority yet lack personal power.

So what is the difference between power and authority? 

Power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others.
 
Authority  is the right granted from others to represent or act in a certain way for the benefit of others. (e.g. President of USA)

Authority is granted, but has defined limits. Power is earned and can be limitless.

Authority is derived from the position. Power is derived from an individual's personal influence. 

Two people in exactly the same positions of authority can, and almost certainly will, have very different amounts of power.

A person can posses a great deal of power and absolutely no authority.

Conversely, someone can have authority and absolutely no power

Power is earned through  creating a climate of trust, cooperation, caring and the ability to accomplish great things for the benefit of all people. 


Merry Christmas from LBD!
 
For additional information contact LBD.
John Branstad
John Branstad

Quote of the Month
  
"The value of a man resides in what he gives, and not what he is capable of receiving."

Albert Einstein    
John Branstad
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