Scripture

“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:4)

Thought

Over the month of November we’re going to take a deep dive into the principles of leaders who last. Back in January we released the book Stay The Course: Five Transformational Principles of Leaders Who Last. If you haven’t picked up a copy, this month will be a great time to do so. (There are also hours of bonus video content available for FREE with the book as well as our guided workbook with team discussion questions.)

In this book, we study sixteen elite leaders and their path to the top of their profession. What we uncover is that their journey often looks the same as yours and mine. Full of setbacks, delays, frustrations, rejection and failure. It takes a rare mentality to stay the course in leadership life. In the month of November, we will unpack the five principles to build the stay the course mentality and get a running start on the year 2022.

Principle #1: Start Small

Principle #2: Just Keep Showing Up

Principle #3: Embrace Change

The third principle of leaders who last is they embrace change. This isn’t a “throwing your hands in the air helplessly” type of embracing change. It’s a pressing into what is going on type of embracing change.

Leaders who last recognize change is inevitable. Whether we like change or not is often irrelevant. I believe we all experience two types of change in life. “Chosen change” and “Unchosen change.” The first is when you decide it’s time to move on. The latter is when someone else or some event decides it’s time for you to move on.

Both types of change have a way of rustling the feathers in our lives.

If a leader lets a job title or position become central to their identity and is then stripped of that title - in comes embarrassment.

If a leader plans a series of transitions and promotions toward where they want to go professionally but then is passed up or looked over - in comes discouragement.

If a leader is let go due to downsizing and redirection in the organization - in comes wandering.

If a leader decides to move on and attack something new - in comes uncertainty.

It’s not a matter of whether or not we’ll experience change; it’s a matter of how we’ll handle change.

Transformational leaders understand change is not just happening all around them, but IN them as well. The experiences of uncertainty caused by change have a way of refining us..

A change in motives

A change of perspectives

A change in internal rest

A decreasing of self-reliance and an increasing of God-reliance.

An increase in Trust.

God will lead us where we are meant to be, even if it wasn’t in our original plan.

We don’t need to fear change. The transformation IN us will always lead to poise and preparedness for the transformation AROUND us.

If God is my Shepard, I do not have to chase the “right” situation. I simply have to chase the Shepard every day of my life.

Sheep don’t strive.

“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake”

Call to Action

Don’t coast to the end of 2021. Head over to staythecourseleaders.com/book and start your transformational journey. Tap into hours of free video content and guided reflection questions.