What are you looking for in young leaders? (86-5)
A common mistake is to assume a person becomes a leader when they have a leadership position. Read 1 Samuel 16:6-10.
In his notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible John Maxwell asks the question “How Do You Recognize a Leader?”
When did David become a leader? The Bible makes it clear that the young man had become a leader long before he ever received a title.
This young leader first began to surface in 1 Samuel 16 – but only God and Samuel recognized his leadership at first. Only after his great and unexpected victory over Goliath did everyone else recognize his special abilities (1 Samuel 17:55-58).
David’s example shows that true leaders always declare themselves without making any announcement. It becomes obvious. Too often, we feel forced to pick someone to lead, whether or not they are a leader – and that’s when wrong motives and false criteria emerge.
When you look at the young leaders in your sphere of influence what are you looking for? Are you looking at those that have character, moral values, pay attention to detail, and follow through on their projects, seem to enjoy the work they are currently doing, have a good attitude in their current position or are you looking for someone that has had superstar results on a project. Effective leaders look beyond results on a single project to the character of individuals when they are building their leadership team.
Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.
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