What Motivates You As A Leader?

The following post is courtesy of Bill Higgins. You have probably read a couple of his posts here before. This post is the first of a three-part series about leadership and motivation. There is more information about Bill at the end of this post.

Where Is Your Focus?

You have probably noticed there are some leaders, managers, friends who make you feel good about yourself, while there are others who want everyone else’s eyes focused only on them. Which kind of leader are you? Is it important to you to always be the one out front setting the pace? Are you always ‘up’ and encouraging others to be? Are you one that frequently says something like, “This isn’t so difficult. We can do this!”

Or are you more the following kind of leader? Is it important to let others set the pace about things they are passionate about or expert in? Are you honest enough to share your ‘down’ days with others also?

Do you say things like, “This is really tough. It will take all of us to make this happen,” or “This is one of the most difficult challenges we’ve faced. We may not completely succeed, but we will be better because we took it on”?

These concepts look at positive and servant leadership from a new perspective and provide clues on how we can be better leaders at work, at church, at home.

The Boundaries Leader

The boundaries leader focuses on all the things we need to do to comply; follow the rules, adhere to the process, stay on target, follow instructions, stay in the boundaries. This leader does a lot of telling: telling employees what to do, telling parishioners what they need, telling customers/clients what their problems are.

Folks may come with questions, and the boundaries leader gladly answers and provides direction. They may be very likeable, pleasant, goal-oriented people with a passion to succeed. But the focus is on them.

Peter As A Leader

Peter was this type of leader early in his ministry. When he had a vision in Acts 10:9ff, Peter saw all kinds of animals and a voice that said, “Get up Peter. Kill and eat.” Peter’s response, “Surely not, Lord!”

Surely not and Lord don’t seem to fit in the same sentence. But Peter was a boundaries leader. We see later in the chapter that Peter did learn from that vision, but his initial response confirms his position as a boundaries leader.

Peter still had not quite mastered this new way of thinking as we see in Galatians 2, when Paul confronts him for eating with the Gentiles one day and then refusing the next so those of the “circumcision group” wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

He still had boundaries thinking. Paul called Peter on the carpet to emphasize the fact that we are under grace and not the law.

Should Boundaries Motivate You?

Unfortunately, there are still many believers who try to live a Christian life focused on the boundaries, fail constantly, and live with the guilt. Which is the point! They ask, “What do I need to do or not do” instead of coming to the realization that it’s not about doing, but about being.

The laws may have changed, but the result is the same…bondage. The laws these days may be: did you have a quiet time, did you pray for the poor today, did you witness this week, did you go to Sunday worship (and Wednesday prayer meeting, and Sunday night fellowship) et al. All good things (just as the original laws were also, by the way), but we just can’t ALWAYS do them. So we live with guilt!

The Empowering Leader

This leader focuses on encouraging people in their walk with the Lord, helping people grow in their understanding of how God made them (skills, gifts, abilities, et al), creating a vision for people to strive to attain and grow into.

Paul As A Leader

The Apostle Paul demonstrates this often in his many letters:

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy.” – Philippians 1:3,4

“You became a model for all believers, …The Lord’s message rang out from you.”
– 1 Thessalonians 1:7,8

“I had boasted to him (Titus) about you.” – 2 Corinthians 7:14

“I always thank God for you…For in Him you have been enriched in every way…”
– 1 Corinthians 1:4,5

He valued those he was writing to. Paul also does plenty of confronting and challenging, but his focus is empowering, valuing. Christians trying to live empowering lives don’t ask others what they need to do or not do, they ask what do they need to become or how do they need to grow.

We are not under the law, but we are under a mandate to grow, to mature, to demonstrate God’s power in all kinds of situations, and that only comes from within us, from who we are.

Liz Wiseman does a superb job researching and defining this empowering leader in her book, “Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” and in various webinars. You can find her on YouTube here.

Questions To Ask Yourself

Which kind of leader are you? How do you try to motivate others?

How do they see you?

Do you focus on what needs to be done, when it’s due, and the rules to follow?

Or do you focus on encouraging people to do what they are capable of and provide resources to help them do that?

Make Some Changes!

Are you sure? Check with some trusted colleagues to validate your perspective.

It’s sort of the rabbit and the stick or carrot, or the lemon or honey metaphors. If you tend to be the stick or the lemon, what one thing could you change this week to start becoming more like a carrot or honey?

Then do another the following week. Who says you can’t change? Not God! In fact, He’s in the people-changing business.

About the Author:
BILL HIGGINS is currently the Managing Director of MindWare Incorporated, an independent training and career coaching consulting firm. He previously served on the pastoral staff of churches in the U.S. and Canada, and worked in a managerial capacity for industry leading organizations.

Bill is a graduate of Biola University and Talbot Theological Seminary and his book; Your Road to Damascus: 6 Biblical Secrets for an Effective Job Search is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and MindWare Publishing websites.