The Art of Leadership By Dag Heward-Mills
Alexander the Great was indeed a leader in a hurry. He displayed this trait in many ways and at different times. For instance, he once displayed swiftness of mind by turning his army around and arriving at the battleground before the enemy had fully prepared his defences. In the Bible, Alexander the Great is depicted as a goat that appeared from the western world (Greece) attacking the Persians (the ram) who were led by Darius the Great. So how can a leader increase his speed?
- Increase your speed by quickly moving away from those who reject you.
Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned again.
Luke 8:37
Many people will not believe in you. Even Jesus suffered this fate. Not everyone will believe in your call or conviction. Staying with such people can block your call or vocation. You must be quick to turn away from those who do not believe in you, otherwise your real ministry will be quenched. In such company you are sure to experience setbacks. There are always some people who love you, who like you and who want to hear you. Be quick to turn in the direction of those who like you, whilst avoiding those who despise you.
- Increase your speed by being quick to detect disloyalty.
Immediately Jesus, aware in his spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, “Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?
Mark 2:3-9 (NASB)
Another area you must develop swiftness in is your ability to detect disloyal, disgruntled and discontented people. Disloyal people will slow down any leader as they undo what the leader is doing. Jesus Christ sensed the rejection and despisement in the Pharisees. When you do not detect and diagnose disloyalty quickly, it grows and infects others. Your whole church and ministry can be destroyed because you do not detect disloyalty quickly. To be quick at detecting disloyalty, see my book Loyalty and Disloyalty, especially the chapter on Signs of Disloyalty.
- Increase your speed by being quick to identify potential leaders
Another important area where you must be fast is in identifying potential leaders. The leaders of tomorrow are all around you. The wonderful people you will need are all around you. In order to do well in ministry, you must identify potential leaders and great people around you. If you do not recognize them, another group will. Other people will identify the people you rejected and use them for great things. When you meet them, you will be amazed at what they have been trained to do. For more on how to identify potential leaders see my book, The Art of Leadership.
Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. IMMEDIATELY HE CALLED THEM; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
Mark 1:19-20 (NASB)
- Increase your speed by being quick to root out foolishness
“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn? “For anger slays the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple. “I HAVE SEEN THE FOOLISH TAKING ROOT, AND I CURSED HIS ABODE IMMEDIATELY. “His sons are far from safety, they are even oppressed in the gate, and there is no deliverer.
Job 5:1-4 (NASB)
It is important to root out foolishness quickly. Disorderly, rebellious and disobedient people are dangerous because they have a way of spreading their poison. Many under-developed countries are poor because of a culture of allowing foolishness to take root. All sorts of things are allowed in the name of not offending people.
Visit a poor country and you will find roads meant for cars that are rather being used as markets. Kiosks and containers line the pavements, forcing the pedestrians to walk on the roads.
Slums of shacks, kiosks and containers are allowed to expand and take over the city because politicians, fearing they may lose popularity, refuse to root out disorderliness.
In such countries, you will find the city authorities come up years, after they should have prevented the development of these slums, to demolish and destroy poor people’s homes, treating the people like animals. This unfortunate style of leadership is due to a lack of speed in those who lead.
You may not be a leader of great speed yet but you can increase your speed in the many ways outlined here. May you become a leader of great speed!
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