What’s your leadership stretch for 2023?

Happy New Year! May your 2023 be filled with rich relationships!

The word leadership invokes a variety of perspectives and reactions in Western culture. In a multicultural setting, the topic of leadership is even more loaded. Some of the misguided phrases that are out there about leadership or ministry are: “I’ve got this. . . . It’s just faster if I do it. . . . I just don’t have time for _____. . . . It is better to burn out than rust out. . . . Fake it till you make it.” Putting a spiritual twist on it, someone might say, “God is opening doors, so there is no way we cannot do it.” The list of misleading phrases and philosophies could go on for pages.

The sad reality is that many of us as leaders today are isolated, independent, self-sufficient, self-confident, overburdened, busy, tired, and find ourselves wanting in our spiritual lives. Simply put, many of us are floundering when we could be flourishing. One out of three leaders does not finish the race of life well, according to J. Robert Clinton’s research, and I find that unacceptable. In Clinton’s in-depth study of hundreds of leaders, he determined that one out of every three finished poorly for one or more reasons:

1. They misuse, mismanage, and abuse finances.

2. They struggle with issues of power. (misusing and abusing)

3. They become trapped in their pride.

4. They struggle with boundaries related to sex or issues of sexuality.

5. They fail to deal with family-of-origin issues. (marriage and parenting issues)

6. They simply plateau in their development. (stop learning and growing)

You do not have to finish life poorly! You do not have to flounder through life and ministry! As a leader, you must address floundering in yourself, in those you lead, in your church or organization, or with those you care for, coach, or mentor. Clinton found that those who finished well kept a lifelong learning posture and invested in their spiritual vitality, among other things. Elizabeth and I are passionate about helping Christ-followers flourish to the ends of their lives and guiding them to thrive through the finish line. 

For the next series of blogs, I want to share several core elements of leadership to help you, as a leader, consider how God is inviting you to grow. A core part of our philosophy is that Christ-followers prioritize investing in their relationship with God and then give out of overflow from that relationship.

Which one of the six characteristics of those who finished poorly is the most significant for you to address in 2023? What is the Spirit’s invitation to you to stretch you by investing in your spiritual vitality? We’re glad you help you wrestle with your stretch. Even if it’s been something that’s been nagging you for a long time, you can move towards thriving even in that area!

Here are three short articles from Clinton on finishing well to take this idea further.