I am working on a class that I want to teach regarding the influence a leader has. I want to follow-up on Paul’s suggestion to Timothy in First Timothy 4:12 that he be “an example of the believer”.
Paul was saying, “show people what a believer looks like, how he acts and how he responds. In fact, encourage people to be like you!”
Leaders are believers. They believe in what they are doing. They believe in the purpose of their work. They believe and that is why they are doing it.
I wonder if leaders realize how much influence they really have. Do they know how much they are watched, listened to and copied?
Every leader leaves a legacy. Some leave greater assets, others leave a mess. The imprint left in other lives endures.
There is influence in just being there. There is influence from suggestions or ideas. Influence can be formal or informal, planned or unplanned, direct or indirect.
I am going to use this chart, with 12 good and 12 bad qualities. I thought I may try it out on you:
GOOD LEADERS BAD LEADERS
Sense of gratitude Sense of entitlement
Compliment Criticism
Forgive others Hold a grudge
Give others credit Take all the credit
Read everyday Watch TV everyday
Accept responsibility Blame others
Embrace change Fear change
Talk about ideas Talk about people
Share information Hoard information
Lives with joy Lives with anger
Sets and keeps goals Operates from the seat of pants
Always learning Thinks they know it all
“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” Napoleon Hill