Emerging leaders are the hope for any organization!
Hopefully, they find themselves in an organization that develops, empowers and releases up-and-coming leadership. Should the budding leader be fortunate enough to land in such a place, they should look to cultivate the following ESSENTIALS, as they seek to advance and expand their influence.

A developing leader has a choice: SOLO or SQUAD

The greatest potential of any leader will only be realized by understanding that they have to have others to reach it. The graveyards are full of unrealized potential.

• Leaders who were determined to make it on their own.
• People too insecure to ask for help.
• Companies capped by owners who were threatened by the success of others.
• Churches capped by pastors/leaders unwilling to change.

John Maxwell was insightful when he made the statement, “Those closest to you will determine the level of your success.”

Two Things that drive leaders to go SOLO.

1. Insecurity — SOLO because they feel threatened by successful peers.
   The SQUAD never develops under insecure leaders. They gather followers who will never challenge their authority or champion other strategies to success.
2. Comparison — SOLO because they are blinded by need for approval and pride.
   The SQUAD never has a sense of value because the leader takes all the credit. Therefore, the SQUAD never fully contributes to push the leader forward to their greatest potential.

Two Things that inspire leaders to recruit a SQUAD.

1. Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork — SQUAD because they respect talent.
   Never SOLO since they empower those around them. They regard the success of others as a win for all.
2. Companionship Makes the Work Fun — SQUAD because they value others.
   Never SOLO because they appreciate diversity and team. They create an environment of honor and esteem.

John Maxwell:

You Are a Fool if You Think You Are Leading Only to Turn Around and Discover No One is Following!

IT’S ESSENTIAL TO INVITE OTHERS INTO THE JOURNEY!

Developing leaders need the right ATTITUDE to accomplish their ultimate purpose!

A prominent business school did a study on their graduates and found that 85% of their graduates’ success was attributed to attitude while only 15% was attributed to aptitude.

A bumper sticker read:

“My Idea of Team is a Whole Lot of People Doing What I Tell Them to Do”  

That’s one attitude of leadership that many fall into. However, it is opposite of what Jesus modeled and espoused when he said to his disciples, “You know that the rulers of this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them, but among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus understood that people are not motivated by the skills or the position a leader possesses, as much as, they are by the attitudes the leader demonstrates.

How the leader acts in a given situation will be influenced by their attitude.

• Their attitude will determine their success or failure. A leader with a self-centered attitude will demoralize the workforce.
• Leaders that are concerned about the welfare of the team will inspire productivity and draw out the best in others.
• When it comes to customer satisfaction, attitude makes all the difference. John Maxwell tells of seeing a sign in a service station entitled:
  • Why Customers Quit. It read as follows: 1% Die, 3% Move Away, 5% Have Other Friendships, 9% Competitive Reasons (price), 14% Product Dissatisfaction, BUT…. 68% Quit Because of the Attitude of Indifference Toward Them By Some Employee.

THREE ATTITUDE STRESS POINTS FROM WITHIN:

1. Past Failure Leading to Fear of Failure
   Must see failure as a point of learning rather than a indictment on potential.
2. Personal Identity Leading to Compromise
   Must connect to the creative purpose in Christ rather than be defined by the lie of sin.
3. Unrealized Expectation Leading to Discouragement
   Must learn contentment in all seasons of life rather than be consumed by gratification!

THREE ATTITUDE STRESS POINTS FROM WITHOUT:

1. Criticism of Others Leading to Comparison
   Learn from the truth in criticism and grow from it without forsaking personal identity. 
2. Change of Life Leading to Insecurity
   Leverage change by seeing and seizing the opportunities without losing courage.
3. Conflict Leading to Anger / Unforgiveness
   Lean into conflict to resolve as much as possible without making personal judgements.

IT’S ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT ATTITUDES IMPACT EVERY RELATIONSHIP!

PRO 29:18 “Where there is no progressive revelation (vision), the people cast off restraint.”

When the vision isn’t clear people begin to disconnect. People want to be a part of something greater than themselves. They desire to contribute. They want to know that their involvement moves the mission forward.

Effectively implementing vision requires several key features.

1. Leaders must be laser focused on the “why” of the organization. The “why” speaks to the motivation, the passion and the driving force for the company’s existence.
2. The leader must understand what problems are being solved by the team. Understanding what the team does well keeps everyone involved and focused on what’s important. It helps the company stay narrow and sharp rather than broad and inefficient.
3. Lastly, vision is about the future, the dream of what could be. Some would refer to it as the BHAG (big hairy audacious goal). That enormous something that requires growth, resources and people in order to be achieved. It provides the dream for tomorrow and ignites the desires to go there. BHAG creates the understanding that more investment is needed, more leadership development is required, more streamlining is vital. The dream of what could be says, “We haven’t arrived. There is another level. We have another mountain to climb.”

If a leader doesn’t have a vision, they will plagiarize it.

• No organization can live without vision.
• Even the most dynamic and charismatic leader requires vision. Because it, the vision, is what keeps the people following the leader.
• Ultimately, vision furnishes the adhesive which pulls the organization and its leadership together.

Vision, vision and more vision!