Legacy Leadership: Wisdom Of The Apostle PaulSample

Affirming, but Not Content – Part 2

One of the most disappointing conversations I ever had occurred with one of my mentors. We frequently talked about leadership issues and I was always eager to share new things I was learning. On several occasions, I gave him an article or book I had read that I found particularly impactful. During one of our talks, he told me not to pass on these materials any more. He said that he had already learned all he needed to know about leadership and didn’t need any more information. I was shocked.

Just as we cannot be content with the performance of our followers, we should never become complacent with our own level of leadership. We should certainly be aware of and leverage our strengths, but we must always be pressing on to become even better as leaders. 

In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul gives us an important principle for our development and effectiveness as leaders. He knows that he has not arrived, or become perfect, in his efforts to be become like Christ. So, he presses on toward that goal by putting the past behind him and reaching forward to what lies ahead. 

Forgetting what lies behind should include both shortcomings and successes. I don’t need to beat myself up about past failures. I need to learn from them and use those lessons to improve my leadership now and in the future. But I also don’t need to rest on my past successes and allow myself to become complacent. I need to acknowledge and give thanks for past achievements and then “press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

So, how do we do that?  Our development as a leader requires intentional effort. Paul provides a map for our on-going leadership development program in his letters to Timothy. 

Timothy has been entrusted with the gift of leadership and Paul tells him not to neglect the gift or the responsibilities that come with it (1 Timothy 4:14-16). In his second letter, he tells him to “kindle afresh” or “fan into flame” the leadership gift God had given him. As leaders we are to “take pains” with these things and be diligently focused on them (2 Timothy 1:6-7). 

Our ongoing development as leaders is serious and vigorous work. We are to be immersed in this effort and the results of this effort should be evident to others. But, this effort is not aimed at merely external appearances. It also includes our emotions and our attitudes, and Paul tells Timothy to pay close attention to himself and his teaching. Finally, he tells him to persevere in these things. Essentially, he tells Timothy to keep on keeping on in his development and growth as a leader.

Reflect and Act on these questions:

• “When a leader gets better, everyone gets better.” What is your plan for improving your leadership?
• Where have you become complacent in your leadership?
• What shortcomings do you need to leave behind?
• What successes do you need to leave behind so that you can press on toward the goal? 
• Who can encourage you to be absorbed in and take pains with your development as a leader?