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Leadership Lesson – Owners versus Renters

In leadership, I have personally observed that there is a definite difference between leaders who have commitment and those that do not. The best illustration that I have read which highlights the difference of being committed and being merely interested is that of the pig and the chicken on a farm.  At breakfast time, the pig is totally committed, but the chicken is merely interested.  In this simple little illustration, it is easy to see how the pig totally owns the breakfast since it must give everything to participate – its life; whereas, the chicken only gives partially to participate – its egg.

The leadership principle of being totally committed by giving everything for a purpose is also further illustrated when Jesus shares the parable of the pearl of great price.  In Matthew 13:45-46 Jesus says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,  who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” In this parable, the merchant sees value in a pearl and is willing to give everything to own it.

Have you ever thought about the differences between owning a vehicle and renting a vehicle?  As I think about it, I have personally found three key differences that also apply to principles of leadership commitment.

• Investment: Owners are willing to pay the full price for the life time benefit of an owned vehicle; whereas, renters are only willing to pay a partial price for the short term benefit of a rented vehicle. 

Principle of Leadership Commitment – Leaders with commitment see the intrinsic value in a specific purpose and are willing to invest 100% to participate.

• Vision: Owners will park owned vehicles in safe places to protect its future value; whereas, renters will park rented vehicles in the most convenient places without much regard for protecting its future value.  Principle of Leadership Commitment - Leaders with commitment have vision and build for the future.

• Responsibility: Owners will frequently wash and shine owned vehicles; whereas, renters rarely wash and shine rented vehicles. 

Principle of Leadership Commitment - Leaders with commitment take full responsibility and properly steward their investment in the future.

To help leaders assess their personal commitment level in any particular leadership situation, I would recommend asking three simple questions:

1. 1. Am I willing to invest 100% of my best effort for this purpose or something less than my best effort?
2. 2. Am I focusing (vision) more on the long term benefits of my effort or more on the short term benefits?
3. 3. Am I willing to take full responsibility for my effort or little responsibility for my effort?

By asking these three simple questions, you and I will be better equipped to evaluate and assess leadership commitment in any given situation. Thanks and have a blessed day!

1) On a scale of 1 – 5, how would you rate yourself as an initiator? Why?

2) Jesus called his disciples by seeing their potential, calling them to greatness and leading them in their purpose. What area do you need to grow in the most in order to be a leader who initiates life-changing relationships? Why?

· After watching the video, can you remember the 4 E’s? If not, go back and watch the video because it’s important to remember and understand the 4 E’s of discipleship.

· Of the 4 E’s, which one are you most comfortable leading people in? Which one of the 4 E’s is most challenging for you to lead people in?

· What can you do to improve on the areas of discipleship that are the most challenging to you?

• Do you tend to put more emphasis on your “spiritual cup” or on your

“leadeship cup?” What can you do to intentionally bring balance to

these areas of your life?

• What can you do to help intentionally fill your “spiritual cup?”

• What can you do to help intentionally fill your “leadership cup?”

ONE

Pastor Doug Armand

Have you ever heard the adage, “How do you eat an elephant?”  The answer is: ONE bite at a time.

What if we asked you, as a leader, to develop 1,000 new leaders over the next ten years?  Okay.  Now, that’s an “elephant”!  Do you know that all it takes to accomplish that task is for you to train ONE leader each year for ten years and train each leader to do the same?

During our last Vision Night, Pastor Dave DeGarmo encouraged each of us to raise up ONE leader this year.  So where do we begin?  The first thing we must do is to Discover Potential Leaders. In order to discover potential leaders, we must…

1. Pray –Ask God to help you identify at least ONE person who has a heart to invest into others.  God tells us to “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).  If God tells us to pray for leaders, then He will send them, if we obey Him by asking.

1. Observe – Who in the group demonstrates FAITH?

F – Faithfulness – A key ingredient in identifying someone who can lead is faithfulness.  Who in your group is faithful in devotion to Jesus, in attendance to the group, in handling responsibilities, etc.?

A – Availability – Mentoring someone requires spending time with them, so it is important that potential leaders be available to spend time with you and remain involved in small group activities.

I – Initiative – Look for someone who is not afraid to take the initiative relationally and in serving others.

T – Teachable – A posture of openness to constructive feedback and coaching is very important for those being prepared to lead because the learning never ends.

H – Honest, Open, and Transparent – Transparency and honesty are very endearing character qualities.  People will always be drawn to those who are willing to be authentic in relationships.  This will help tremendously as the potential leader seeks to build lives.

Take the goal of multiplying your group, and break it down to the manageable goal of investing yourself into ONE person.  When I look back at my life and the many relationships that God has given me over the years, I can say with complete confidence that it was worth it and it is still worth it every day.

Our greatest privilege as leaders is to see those whom we are leading to step into their God-given purpose.  All it takes is for ONE person to get it, to hear God’s call to lead and respond with, “Yes Jesus, I will go.”  That is exactly what you did.  You are ONE who can reach and build ONE.