HARD LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP

HARD LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP

by Josimar Salum

   About 12 years ago, I learned several vital lessons about leadership and how we build relationships.

   In 2004, I met Apostle John Kelly, who became a father and mentor to me. During the few times I met with him over the years, I learned significant, often difficult, lessons from him. I will share some of them here.

   1. I had to end relationships that exploited my generosity and open heart. I let go of people for whom I made unlimited efforts to help, whether I could or not. I always wanted to serve everyone, but I found that I was harming myself and my family. I realized this was neither biblical nor healthy.

   Referring to a group of these Christian leaders, Father John Kelly told me one afternoon, "These people will drive you crazy."

   2. I let many people get very close to me, always acting with integrity, honesty, and loyalty, especially in financial matters. John Kelly said, "They want what you can give them. They never have trusted you.” One by one, I realized they always placed me under suspicion and questioned my integrity. It hurt deeply, but I said, "Enough."

   3. I learned to differentiate relationships. This didn't mean ending my relationships with those people or treating them harshly. Definitely not. But I decided to stop being "Father Abraham" to them, as my mother sometimes called me. I discovered in practical ways what my father used to say: "Josimar, my son, I belong to those who love me." It was a practical piece of advice. Jesus himself once said, "Whoever does not gather with me scatters." And I said, "Enough."

   4. I learned from John Kelly to give up on "church" without stopping loving people or the Bride of the Lamb. What consumes my energy without benefiting the Kingdom is not worthy of my time.

   5. I learned from him to celebrate only those who love, respect, and honor me, and to stay free from many leeches, some for the rest of my life. This lesson was particularly harsh because I realized we can build friendships and partnerships with the wrong people. From this, I realized there are many different levels of relationships in leadership: casual greetings, friendship, partnership, brotherhood, and alliance or covenant. Some people you may only have lunch with, while very few are worth going to war with.

   Finally, after learning all this and putting it into practice, instead of celebrating my ministerial achievements and promising ministry results, I gave up.

   I gave up on myself. I gave up on trying my best to satisfy the desires of my flesh. Many things I thought were spiritual were actually carnal. I gave up experiencing so much fear and living frustrated with myself for not reaching the "divine standard" I had set. The more I reached, the higher the standard grew. This is very frustrating. I began to experience the Grace of God that I loved to sing about but had never fully experienced.

   I gave up! I gave up everything! I gave up fighting against my flesh and against sin. No one who fought sin overcame it. Now I fully embrace the Grace of God that delivers me from all sins.

   I was in a spiral of “to-do lists” that never helped achieve anything. I was forced to do many things to receive things from God and gain His approval. That is awful. They were all fleshly practices and pathetic endeavors. The only thing that matters is embracing who God is transforming me to be, to become a being of freedom.

   For a long time, I wanted to share these lessons and the mysteries of the Kingdom with everyone. But the Spirit within me caused me to say and act upon these words: "My hour has not yet come. Be quiet."

   However, at the beginning of 2010, after a trip to India to proclaim and teach the Gospel of the Kingdom to pastors and missionaries, upon returning to Massachusetts, the Holy Spirit told me to share the teachings wisely. I decided to open my heart a little to the pastors. What I experienced was a huge resistance.

   But God continued to open doors, and I silently began to reach thousands of people with the Gospel, especially making disciples for Jesus. I was at last raising leaders and discipling them. I have opened my heart and taught the Word in such a way that I will continue to freely preach the Gospel of my King, who became a servant to die for me. If they rejected Him, they will certainly reject me.

   I will walk loving and serving my brothers, always responding to anyone who wants to know the Hope that is in me: JESUS CHRIST ALONE, MY GLORY.

   #ASONE

SECURE LEADERS SHAPE THE FUTURE. Jones Singini

SECURE LEADERS SHAPE THE FUTURE 

Jones Singini

Many business, spiritual and political organizations are replete with insecure leaders who are worried about defending their positions and offices instead of contributing value. 

The few secure leaders are the ones who have graduated from formal titles and positions to be shapers of destinies. 

They go beyond selfish interests and define the ideal for all in a selfless manner. 

Secure leaders are driven by a picture of the future that produces passion for positive action. 

Real leadership influence goes beyond formal authority, having the capacity of cascading formalized corporate, spiritual and political boundaries. 

Leaders who are secure challenge the status quo and are prepared to make personal sacrifices for the common good. 

Conversely, insecure leaders are worried about petty issues like how they are addressed, parking lots, office space and whether they have been greeted or not.

I read about Mother Teresa who was invited to address the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 but she was not a Head of State.

Many Presidents left public office without having gotten such an opportunity. 

It comes down to influence and that's the essence of leadership; being so secure in your field of domination that the world opens doors for you. 

Mother Teresa had earlier received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 yet she had only dedicated her life to address the plight of the hungry, poor, dying and naked. 

Great leaders incur costs to achieve the visions they espouse with a high level of confidence in their proposals.

They distinguish themselves by strategic insight, strong convictions, self confidence, self discipline and dynamic energy. 

Whether they have positions or not, they dominate their spaces. 

Secure leaders speak to inspire with the desire to boost the morale and self confidence of the followers. 

They have mastered the ability of showing the way, bearing in mind that the demands of the future require knowledgeable and competent people who can rise above the storms.

The insecure counterparts seek to dominate and subjugate their followers by keeping them weak and overly dependent on the person on the throne.

They use reward and punishment to manipulate and control followers.

Whilst the insecure leader is thinking of the throne and titles, the secure leader is thinking of time and transformation.

#JSALUM

#ASONE

RECOGNIZING AN AUTHORITARIAN LEADER IN 7 STEPS Dr. Max Wesley & Dr. Josimar Salum

RECOGNIZING AN AUTHORITARIAN LEADER IN 7 STEPS 

Dr. Max Wesley & Dr. Josimar Salum

1. The authoritarian, abusive leader believes he is right, has the only standard, and no longer considers biblical principles. Therefore, no complaints reach him. The principles no longer apply to him.

2. The mistakes of the authoritarian and abusive leader cannot be questioned. Questioning his faults or mistakes is for him questioning his own leadership. He takes everything personally, as an offense.

3. The authoritarian and abusive leader acts to cripple the work and abilities of others who question their mistakes, even if it is done in an appropriate way. He works to create the narrative that these people's accomplishments aren't that great. His accomplishments are always bigger and better. This creates the superiority he needs over his peers, who will be indoctrinated to obey him without ever questioning and not thinking about what he does, says and how he behaves.

4. The authoritarian and abusive leader likes to show off his accomplishments. The authoritarian especially likes to publicize his achievements in order to create some support for his tyrannical actions.

5. The authoritarian and abusive leader maintains permanent tension. He almost never puts an end to a problem or conflict to always have a supposed ace up his sleeve against someone who poses a threat to him. This is because he knows that he can only maintain his power and influence by weakening others.

6. The authoritarian and abusive leader always acts with false pacifism. In fact, he creates a false impression of legality and pacification, but in fact he prefers to work in a climate of tension and in an environment of narratives created by himself. This produces a situation of constant conflict and dissatisfaction, ideal for him to enforce his partial judgment. In this type of phase, the authoritarian person responds aggressively to severely punish those who expose his mistakes, in order to serve as an example to others, so that no one ever questions his actions. This is how fear, which is the most effective weapon that perpetuates his power, is consolidated.

7. The authoritarian and abusive leader has his tyranny usually expressed in all context of everyone else's lives. It is the exercise of authoritarianism in all areas. It doesn't matter if it's not a principle, if it's just a matter of opinion, he will try to impose his point of view on every situation in the other's life. There is no freedom or joy. The love that is the only source of legitimate authority has long ceased to manifest itself.

#ASONE

HOW TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP Isaac Balinda & Josimar Salum

HOW TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP

Isaac Balinda & Josimar Salum

1. Responsible Leaders do not make irresponsible statements.

2. Responsible leaders are careful with words and their own presentation 

3. Responsible leaders discovered their responsibility by valuing their journey into leadership.

4. Godly leaders speak out of the presence of God.

5. Godly leaders speak truth in Love.

6. Godly leaders are sincere and sharp, not afraid of offending people who oppose the truth. 

7. A humble leader never makes light of eternal truths, but esteem them with reverence.

8. A humble leader do not get confused when he is accused of arrogant by people that do not know the difference between authority and arrogance.

9. A wise leader resolves conflicts peacefully, not forcefully.

10. A wise leader is not shy of using Godly force against rebellion.

11. A wise leader knows how to resist the wicked to protect the weak.

12. An enduring leader withstands without anger 

13. A loving leader rejoices with truth but hates injustice.

14. The good leader attempts to make friends not enemies.

15. The good leader seeks reconciliation rather  animosity.

16. A leader who listens well to his followers serves them well.

17. Dealing harshly with opponents causes more aggravation and hostility. A polite leader uses gentleness and kindness.

18. A wise leader gives soft answers, but when the occasion needs strong action he is capable to respond adequately and rightly.

19. The greatness of a leader relies in humility before God, not in his eloquence before men.

20. A wholesome leader is characterized by tolerance, which saves him from nasty decisions in crisis, and retaliations in the face of contrariness.

21. A devoted leader gives himself totally to the ones he is leading, helping them to develop their undiscovered potential.

22. A true leader gives himself as an example, by what he does. It is about his testimony, in others words, he speaks only if followed by his actions.

23.  A competent leader responds to their followers according to their capacity and their level to bring them up from where they are. 

24. A patient leader remembers that people's responses vary according to their nature, temperament, and level of development.

25. A mature leader shows high respect for others, irrespective of race, or rank.

26. A godly leader is beyond any prejudice of any type and always treat all people as God treat them.

27. A powerful leader shows his strength and might by the Love he has for people. 

28. A leader who follows his Leader reproduces him to others through himself and inspires others by what he does as much as how he speaks.

29. A wise leader guards himself against pitfalls of success, self-assertiveness and over-confidence.

30. A wise leader inspires and motivates rather than intimidating and manipulating.

31. A weak leader retreats in the face of rising difficulties and loses the respect of followers.

32. A teachable leader eagerly probes for truth learned by others regardless of their status.

33. A relaxed leader relaxes his followers.

34. A stubborn leader is a manace who cannot be trusted by his colleagues.

35. A self-righteous leader lives in a cell made of blocks of deception, hypocrisy, and lies.

36. The path of leadership is always lonely.

37. Severe trials open the doors to new revelations, new ideas for creation and for promotion.

38. Broken promises quickly destroy confidence in Leadership.

39. A so called leader who doesn’t have followers all that he has is being called a leader that he is not.

40. Leader leads, manages, commands, inspires, executes, advances, but most of all serves, develop and advances people.

Conclusion:

Fundamental principles underline the thinking and conduct of all true leaders, and all these  principles are defined for leaders within the Kingdom of God.

Question:

What kind of Leader are You?

#ASONE

LEADERSHIP Dr Muchelule Yusuf

LEADERSHIP

Dr Muchelule Yusuf

1. Leadership is an Asset when it is people-centered, but a Liability when it is ego-centric.

2. The Greatest Act of Leadership Is mentoring.

3. If what you learn, achieve, accumulate or accomplish dies with you then you are a generational failure.

4. Mentoring is the manifestation of the highest level of personal maturity, security, and self-confidence.

5. An insecure person will never train people. He will oppress people.

6. Mature people create people greater than themselves.

7. Your assignment has a shelf life.

8. You will die one day; so train your replacement.

9. Your greatest gift to the world is your Mentee.

10. True leaders do not seek followers. Followers are attracted to true Leaders.

11. The Greatest obligation of true leadership is to transfer your deposit to the next generation.

12. Leadership success is measured by the success of their Successors.

13. No matter how great you may have been, if you didn’t produce a Successor, you are a failure.

14. You preserve what you built through mentorship.

15. Legacy is about preserving all that you’ve built by raising other people.

16. Success without a successor is a failure.

17. Leadership that serves only its Generation is destined to failure.

18. If your vision dies with you, you have failed.

19. Legacy is about living beyond your grave.

20. Leadership Is Not a sprint but a relay.

21. The most important part of a relay is to successfully pass the baton on, not running.

22. The ultimate goal and measure of true leadership is not to maintain followers but to produce Leaders.

23. True leadership measures its success by the diminishing dependency factor of its Followers.

24. The ultimate measure of leadership is the ability to delegate tasks but not responsibilities.

25. True leadership makes itself increasingly unnecessary.

26. You are a successful leader when your Followers can lead Others.

27. Your goal as a Leader is to destroy the dependency of the people around you.

28. You are a great Leader when your people don’t need you.

29. Make people greater than you and you will live forever.

30. True Leaders do not seek power; they rather seek to empower Others. 31. Never confuse your position with your value.

31. The first act of a true leader is identifying your Replacement and you begin to mentor them.

32. You become great by producing people greater than yourself.

33. When you produce Someone greater than yourself, don’t get jealous.

34. When you train your Replacement, you are free to expand your work.

35. When you mentor people, your legacy will make your Tombstone unnecessary.

#Mentorship

#BeALeaderYourself

#JSalum 

#ASONE

LEADERSHIP THAT IS SO SUSTAINABLE WITH STRENGTH Bishop Jones Singini _ South Africa

LEADERSHIP THAT IS SO SUSTAINABLE WITH STRENGTH 

Bishop Jones Singini _ South Africa 

There was a time when only leaders in their 40’s, 50’s and 60's told me they were exhausted from leading; now, leaders in their late 30’s are saying the same thing.

We could make a list of the changes in culture that may contribute to this issue, but, I’d like to focus on what we can do about it.

Let me make a helpful comparison between leadership vitality and physical vitality.

We’ve learned that strength and sustainability are good companions.

It takes the right combination of weight and reps to gain strength but also to be able to sustain the program. 

Too much weight can cause burnout or injury; too little weight does not create the needed strength to live an energetic and vibrant lifestyle.

We can take some cues from this to our leadership.

If you don’t carry the weight of leadership responsibility, you’ll not be able to experience a productive ministry. 

But too much weight is not sustainable and can backfire, leaving you in an unhealthy or wounded place.

 Every leader is different. 

Just like the amount of weight you might lift in the gym, the amount of leadership responsibility you can handle varies according to the “shape” you are in.

Your shape as a leader depends on things such as your level of experience, leadership development, talent and skill, drive, spiritual maturity, and the environment you lead-in.

There is no fast-track to your strength and sustainability as a leader. It’s a lifestyle that requires intentional effort over your lifetime.

There are, however, very specific things you can do that will increase your leadership strength and help you sustain that strength over the long haul.

If you don’t carry the weight of leadership responsibility, you’ll not be able to experience a productive ministry. 

1. AN HONEST RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. 

 You are not going to get everything just right, but if your relationship with Jesus is honest and you follow him wholeheartedly, you are headed in the right direction.

 Isn’t that the point? 

Every day we take a few more steps in the direction Jesus leads us, and some days we do better than others, but we keep growing while we keep going.

It’s when honesty breaks down that you stop moving forward.

You can’t carry the weight of sin, failure, and discouragement. It’s too heavy. But when we come to Jesus with honesty about our failures and gratitude for successes, that’s how we sustain the long road of faith and leadership.

You can’t fool God, and there is no point in fooling yourself. 

 Honesty with Jesus is a wise choice .

 2 FAMILY “plus” WHERE YOU CAN BE YOURSELF . 

 You need the love of family, close friends, and trusted colleagues to gain the strength to keep going. 

You cannot lead healthy or for very long if you are isolated, disconnected, and without community.

Your community doesn’t have to be large, but it has to be deep and true.

There is no greater gift than to be loved unconditionally. 

Who are those people in your life?

A great test of true community is knowing you are completely safe and can be wholly yourself.

This doesn’t mean you are not the real you when you lead; it means you have a place that you don’t have to be “on” all the time.

It’s good to give yourself away as you love and lead, but make sure you have a place to fill your tank along the way.

 3 REALISTIC MARGIN 

 There are a few leaders that have too much margin, but the vast majority have little to none. 

Realistic margin is a good goal. 

With the demands of ministry and the pressures of leadership, you may never feel you have enough margin in your calendar, but don’t give up. Fight for margin.

Margin is where you find time to think, exercise, follow up on phone calls, catch your breath, and make space for the unexpected. 

 So, where is that margin in your calendar? 

Margin isn’t about time to do nothing; it’s time to do some of your most meaningful work. Don’t let busyness crowd out your deep work.

Realistic margin recognizes the tension between the unlimited demands of leadership and the limitations of your time. 

Don’t get frustrated that you don’t have to enough margin; just make sure you have some and use it wisely.

Margin gives you both strength and the ability to sustain.

 4. CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU. 

 I don’t want to place any doubts in your mind about where you are in ministry.

Instead, I want to elevate the importance of being in the right place.

Sustainability comes from knowing your role as a leader is a calling, not just a career. It’s not a hobby nor a side-hustle. 

When you approach your leadership that way, you can carry much more weight.

With that settled, now it’s about being in the right environment, one that has a healthy and productive team that pursues a Godly mission. 

One where you fit the culture, enjoy great relationships, and you make a measurable contribution.

That’s how you gain confidence that you are exactly where God wants you.

It doesn’t mean you won’t experience difficult days or seasons. We all do. But you can still have joy and peace when you know you’re in the right place.

 5. NOTICEABLE SKILL LEVEL IMPROVEMENT 

 So which comes first, lifting more weight or getting stronger? 

Yeah, I know—a bit of a chicken or egg question.

When you lift more weight (carry greater responsibility), you get stronger, yet you must get stronger (develop as a leader) to carry more weight. 

 Do you indeed know the answer to this riddle?

There is no black or white answer to that riddle, but if you engage both sides, I can tell you it works.

And a great question to ask yourself is, “Am I a better leader this year than last year?” 

If you and I were having coffee and I asked you that question, what would be your answer be? 

 Could you be specific in describing how you are a better leader? 

 Who is helping you improve as a leader? 

 Do you have a coach or mentor? 

#JSalum 

#ASONE

TRUE AUTHORITY Josimar Salum

TRUE AUTHORITY

Josimar Salum

“I am sure in the Lord Jesus that when leaders attract self-promoting authority to themselves, they claim authority to discipline brothers and sisters and boast an authority for themselves above others, hierarchically, an environment of the darkest sorcery has established itself and the Spirit of God withdrew from the middle.  God forbid such a disaster.  True authority is manifested when we do not need to defend it, when we serve to heal and restore lives and when we take off our clothes, take a bucket of water and wash the feet of the disciples. ”  - #ASONE

Leader of mega church commit suicide.

Another leader of a mega church committed suicide this week. My dear sister Kathie Walters expressed as a warfare of waters spirits.  Maybe waters here is related to pride. And I am not talking about that brother from these sad news. I am referring to each of us. 

There is no way to get into waters without getting wet. 

We start just washing our hands like saying this has nothing to do with me. 

The sense of security and affirmation is good when it is solemnly on the Lord"s account of Grace in our lives. 

I find every day the need of total brokenness and total dependence which is my true and essencial survival kit for life, ministry and everything. 

Though it is true we stand only by God's Grace, Grace is much expressed in how we treat each other in family and our brothers and sisters  and everybody else everywhere. 

Our syndrome in America is lack of humility and brokenness in the midst of a sea of gifts, wealth and self sufficiency. 

This is suicide. 

Lord, have mercy!