Survey: Leadership

I’ve been thinking about effective leadership these days. Looking around me, from real life politicians, managers, church leaders to those we study in the Bible and textbooks, I see there are all different types of leaders both past and present.

Some lead because they have the title. Some lead because they have a following. Some lead because they have a wealth of knowledge/experience. Some lead because they want to control the situation, to get it their way. Some lead because of the glory – more money, more prestige, more acknowledgement. Some lead because they want to make a difference, make a change.

What makes a leader good? What characteristics are important for a leader to have?

I’m sure different things are important to different people, but I’m curious as to what you guys think, especially thinking about those leaders that have made a special impact on you. Thanks!

Press on.

I’ve always been a sprinter – 100′s, 200′s..and once in awhile, maybe a 400m. Running long distance has always just been a part of the impossible cloud that floated far far away. Even though I ran track, I’ve never ran more than 2 miles at once.

This past year, I’ve come face to face with my lack of character and perseverance at anything worth doing. So I thought of a great idea. (!) I’m going to start running long(er) distance(s), as a metaphor for this Christian race.

I was excited. I’m going to “build my character” as I train for this 5k! What a GREAT idea.

Someone said that running is mainly a mental battle. If this is true, I have a very weaksauce mental stamina. No endurance whatsoever, and the ever so slow improvement is actually quite discouraging for me.

Why?

My sprinter’s mentality. I want to give it my all for about 1 minute, finish, see my results, and move on. But, long distance is so not like that.. and life doesn’t quite work that way either.

I burst out full force when I start something – a great starter, but not a great finisher.

I get distracted. I start to think about how I can’t slow down my breathing and my feet feel like they weigh a ton each.

I get discouraged. And soon enough, I can’t think of anything except “I CAN’T do thisssssssss”.

I lose interest and change my goal. Then I start negotiating with myself and come up with easier alternatives. “Well running is boring, if I played tennis, I’d be working all these muscle groups.” Or, “man, at least I’m not too fat yet. I’ll just eat more healthy”

I have a lot of respect for long distance runners. Mad props. Sprinters have nothing on you.

Today, I ran a mile. Made me smile. =) Thank you, God, that I have second chances. Fail, fail, fail, growth! Character building, here we go!

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“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14