Becoming An Extraordinary LeaderSample

“Putting Extraordinary Into Practice”

Heart, soul, mind, and strength are the completeness of our leadership. It’s all of who we are working together. When we bring our whole hearts, when we bring our brilliant minds, when we bring our passionate souls, and when we bring our relentless strength to the leadership table, we bring our best selves. One without the other leaves our leadership wanting and incomplete.

Heart, soul, mind, and strength leaders are compelling. They are warm, engaging, confident, and strong. It’s not that extraordinary leaders are perfect. Even the greatest leaders among us are still growing and still being formed into all that God desires them to be; however, leaders who lead consistently from heart, soul, mind, and strength are a little further along the leadership development path.

They carry themselves with strength and confidence yet without arrogance. They embody what civil rights activist Jesse Jackson described when he said, “Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”

Extraordinary leaders aren’t leading for themselves. They are leading for others. When we’re leading with all of who we are, it becomes less about ourselves and more about those we serve.

You are called to be an extraordinary leader. Heart, soul, mind, and strength leadership is possible. God hasn’t called you to a place of influence to leave you ill-equipped for the responsibility. I still marvel that his formula for leadership is grounded in his instruction for everyone. Love God. Love others. So simple yet so profound.

Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Perfection isn’t a goal to be attained today or tomorrow. It’s a lifelong journey that won’t be realized until the day we arrive on heaven’s doorstep. The pursuit of perfection is the wrong goal, because it’s more about loving self than loving God and loving others. Extraordinary doesn’t mean perfect. Extraordinary means the pursuit of God’s Great Commandment. And in the pursuit of leading with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, the perfecting continues. May your leadership be an overflow of all of who you are: heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Questions for Reflection:
• What next step do you need to take to develop as an extraordinary leader?
• Which dimension do you most naturally lead from?