What actions are you taking to ever increase the respect of your team? (78-3)
People follow those whose leadership they respect. The less skilled follow the more highly skilled. In general, followers seek those who are better leaders than themselves. Read Judges 4:1-16.
Few women in Deborah’s day rose to leadership positions but Deborah’s leadership gifts commanded respect of both men and women. Even Barak, the military commander of the northern tribes of Israel, sought her help.
In notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Maxwell writes about Deborah and the Law of Respect.
Take a look at the process any leader (including Deborah) must go through, a process summarized by the word R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Respect yourself and those with whom you work.
Gaining the respect of others always begins with respecting yourself and your associates. Deborah did this, and people from all over Israel came to her to settle their disputes. If you desire to win the respect of others, first demonstrate a healthy respect for yourself and for your associates.
Exceed the expectations of others.
Few observers might have expected Deborah to change the way they lived. Yet she raised the standard of living for the common person and returned the nation to peace. Leaders who earn the respect of others go the extra mile, fight to achieve victory, and take others with them.
Stand firm on your convictions.
It must have taken convictions for Deborah to summon Barak and command him to fight. Even when Barak doubted the campaign, she did not waver, and proved her convictions by agreeing to accompany Barak to battle. Followers respect a leader with conviction and willingness to join the journey.
Possess uncommon security and maturity.
Deborah never tried to take credit for Israel’s victory, but recognized those who helped the nation win. Respected leaders don’t grab all the credit for themselves. They give as much as they can to others.
Experience personal success.
Leaders cannot help others enjoy success unless they have succeeded themselves. Deborah already had succeeded as a prophetess and judge before she asked the people to fight.
Contribute to the success of others.
Deborah did everything right in calling the people to battle. She gave them a commander and the resources they needed. She also gave them the Word of the Lord that they would win. Under her guidance, “the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, the Canaanite King, until they had destroyed him” (Judges 4:24).
Think ahead of others.
Deborah didn’t simply tell Barak to fight; she furnished a plan for his attack. Then she accompanied Barak to the battle. The result: overwhelming victory. How could the people not respect a leader of such strategy and vision?
What actions are you taking to ever increase the respect of your team? Effective leaders find the area that causes their team to lose respect for them and then asks God to give them a plan to correct that part of their character.
