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Respect yourself and those with whom you work.
Gaining the respect of others always begins with respecting yourself and your team members. Deborah did this, and as we see in Judges 4, people from all over Israel came to her to settle their disputes.
Exceed the expectations of others.
Few observers would have expected Deborah to change the way the Israelites lived. Yet she raised the standard of living for the common person and returned the nation to peace. Leaders who earn the respect of others go the extra mile, fight to achieve victory, and take others with them.
Stand firm on your convictions.
It must have taken strong convictions for Deborah to summon Barak and command him to fight. Even when Barak doubted the campaign, she did not waiver and proved her convictions by agreeing to go with Barak to the battle field. Followers respect a leader with conviction and a willingness to join the journey.
Possess uncommon security and maturity.
Deborah never tried to take credit for Israel’s victory, but recognized those who helped the nation win. Respected leaders don’t grab all the credit for themselves. They give as much as they can to others.
Experience personal success.
Leaders cannot help others enjoy success unless they have succeeded themselves. Deborah already had succeeded as a prophetess and judge before she asked the people to fight.
Contribute to the success of others.
Deborah did everything right in calling the people to battle. She gave them a commander and the resources they needed. She also gave them the word of the Lord that they would win. Under her guidance, “the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they destroyed [him]” (Judges 4:24).
Think ahead of others.
Deborah didn’t simply tell Barak to fight; she furnished a plan for his attack. Then, she accompanied Barak to the battle. The result: overwhelming victory. How could people not respect a leader of such strategy and vision?
Out of This World Leaders earn R-E-S-P-E-C-T by spending their lives developing both individuals and teams. Deborah was described as a “mother of Israel”—indicating her impact as a leader. She made an incredible impact on Israel—and people followed her because of who she was.
May your leadership impact others the ways Deborah’s did, as you shoot for the stars!