Archive for the 'Generations' Category
3 Ways to Sharpen Your Leadership Influence
Someone once told me, “The sharper the ax, the bigger the blow!”Therefore, sharpening our leadership can increase the influence we have in the lives of other people.
Each of us can grow in our leadership. Some would say that you have it or you don’t. I disagree. Each person has the capacity to be a leader and to grow in their leadership influence.
A Major Mistake
One of the major mistakes a leader can make is overestimating their influence. If all a leader listens to and communicates with are the people who think like them and personally connect with them, they are greatly limiting their leadership. Oftentimes, social media amplifies this problem.
Here is what I have found in my life and leadership. The more expansive my leadership role is in life, the more it demands from me to interact and relate to people who are not like me. This motivates me to become a better leader.
In other words, it sharpens my leadership.
3 Ways to Sharpen Your Leadership Influence
1. Determine to make the biggest difference you can make in your life.
This may or may not have anything to do with a position you hold in leadership. Quite honestly, many positionally-based leaders forfeit their leadership influence on the altar of self-worship. They are more impressed with the leadership position they hold than using this entrustment as a stewardship given to them by God.
Sharpening your leadership influence begins when you determine to make the biggest difference you can make with the leadership you have been given in your life. Regardless of your leadership position, seize where you are and the opportunities extended to you. Every great leader makes the most of wherever they are at the time.
2. Expand your leadership influence across generational lines.
I am convinced that many people limit their leadership because they are more focused on doing what comes natural to them: Relating and leading people in their own generation. This usually requires little to no stretch or change on their part.
Leadership influence demands more than this from you. In what way?
Learn to lead cross-generationally. Leading cross-generationally occurs when you are able to lead people in your own generation, the generation that came before you, and the generation that comes behind you. This is cross-generational leadership.
We all need to lead cross-generationally. When you only influence your own generation, you are limiting your leadership influence and quite honestly, your longevity in leadership.
3. Follow the biblical model for leadership influence.
Jesus, Abraham, David, Moses, Paul, and Nehemiah each provide a biblical model for leadership influence. Think about each of them.
- They led spiritually
- They led purposefully
- They led cross-generationally
- They led past their lifetimes and still do today
Sharpening your leadership influence is up to you.
You have one shot in your life and leadership; therefore, make it count wherever you are.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, National Day of Prayer
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, President of the National Day of Prayer, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Men of Influence
Men of influence all have one thing in common: Influencing other men positively. Last fall, a small dinner party was planned for Jeana and me. Unknown to us, some men whose life had been shaped dramatically under our ministry here, along with their wives, had traveled in for this small gathering. Others shared stories via video.
In this gathering, we celebrated something I suppose I had taken for granted as I was living in the stream of daily ministry life: God had used me personally to help shape their lives positively. Stories they shared were serious as well as humorous, and a few even took the opportunity to point out humor in some of my habits. It was a very special evening to Jeana and me.
Fast Forwarding A Few Days
Based upon this extraordinary evening, a few days later our Leadership Team reached an important decision. We knew we needed to intentionally celebrate men positively influencing other men.
What had been witnessed by each of us was a dynamic reality: Those men had grown up and are now positively influencing other men. Each of these influencers are dynamic forces in leadership at churches and ministries in a positive manner today. God is using them to shape the lives of other men.
This Reminds Us of a Powerful Word from the Bible
This entire experience reminded me of a powerful word from the Bible.
2 Timothy 2:2, “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
There is nothing like experiencing 2 Timothy 2:2 personally while simultaneously seeing it lived out in the lives of others.
The Vision of MEN OF INFLUENCE
This weekend on Friday night and Saturday morning at our annual Northwest Arkansas Men’s Conference, we will forward this compelling vision of men positively influencing the lives of other men. Thus, our theme is MEN OF INFLUENCE.
Unfortunately, there is no way to invite all of the influencers from last fall’s gathering to speak to the men who will gather for this conference. However, we have invited four influencers to call the 1,200 men who will attend to embrace this compelling vision to be Men of Influence.
While 90% of the men who attend the conference will come due to being connected to Cross Church, the rest will come from across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
I want to encourage men, from younger teenagers to the eldest of men, whether single or married, this conference is for you. If you haven’t already, register now!
You may wonder why we invited these leaders to come when you may not have heard of most of them. It comes down to this: We believe these men have a unique message to share with other men… including you. Besides hearing the four men from outside of our ministry, you will also hear from our own Dr. Nick Floyd. Dynamic worship led by our outstanding worship team will explode this environment into a very special and memorable weekend.
Spread the word. Bring a friend. Gather the crowd. Yes, register today.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, immediate past President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.