The Key to Leadership

Today's Verse:

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. ~Proverbs 12:24 

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I have read many books on the subject of leadership. Each book brings a perspective on leadership from someone who has expertly led others and organizations. Each book has one or more valuable takeaways that has helped me in understanding and executing my role as a leader. Proverbs has many great traits about leadership that we must give heed to. Solomon writes about diligence in leadership. 

A leader is one who is industrious. 

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule.” A leader works hard and is given to details. He is well organized and constantly checks the progress of what he does. He is committed to completing a task and getting the task done as promised or scheduled. He is a model example of someone who can be trusted to get things done. He knows the important things that he should be doing each day. Someone once said, “Managers do things right; leaders do the right things.” 

A leader is one who has integrity. 

Part of being diligent is being honest, being truthful, and taking ownership in what you do including your mistakes. He corrects his mistakes quickly. He apologizes if he is wrong. He fixes the problems that he or his subordinates created. He works at building and maintaining his credibility. He is above reproach in every area of life. He is honest with God, his wife, his children, his colleagues, and those who report to him. He is someone who is trusted all the time. 

A leader is one who has insight. 

Part of being diligent is having wisdom, foresight, and insight. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself.” Insight is looking ahead in your planning. Insight is doing a reassessment of what you are doing. Insight is asking questions about your performance from those you serve and those who serve with you. A good leader seeks to reverse his weaknesses and to be at his best in his strengths. A leader with insight associates with other leaders who have insight. He has a vision for where he is going and is constantly updating that vision to be sure he is on target. 

A leader is one who has initiative. 

Being disciplined also means having initiative. Good leaders are not people who sit around waiting to do things: they are the first to volunteer. They are self-driven: leaders set out to do things. They don’t have to be told what to do: they do it! Be a leader who executes well. Be the one who gets things done! A key factor in being a diligent leader is being in the front and leading the way. Good leaders start things and take others with them. He is always in the lead. He is on the leading edge. He is leading by being the first one out of the starting block. He inspires others through taking initiative. He is progressive in the sense that he seeks to be in the lead in everything he does. 

A leader is one who inspires. 

Through his diligence, he bears rule. He brings out the best in other people. He knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way. He is someone whom people want to follow and imitate. He has passion for what he does and what needs to be done. He walks into a room, and others are ready to respond to his bidding. 

A leader who is going to succeed must be diligent. He must be focused, have faith, and be someone whom followers will submit to. 

Have a diligent God Morning! 

Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 31-33

#Proverbs #Diligence #Leadership