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The team that achieves victory is the one that first wins its internal battles. And the first one to face and win these internal battles is the leader. How does a leader achieve victory over self?
Achieving Personal Victory
Consider lessons we learn from Josiah in 2 Chronicles 34-35:
1. He remained open and teachable.
Leaders who remain willing to learn and open to change put themselves in a position to win. Josiah demonstrated that kind of openness and teachability. As a 16 year-old, he could have easily tried to convince others he was a “know it all” like his father; instead, he humbled himself.
2. He removed obstacles carried forward from the past.
All leaders deal with baggage. For Josiah, a major battle involved idol worship—a problem since the time of King Solomon. He courageously swept the country clean of idols. As you seek victory in your organization, you must face and overcome problems of the past.
3. He realized what he needed to give and gave it.
Victory always carries a personal cost. For Josiah, that meant repairing the temple and reinstating the Passover. Out of his own holdings, he gave 30,000 lambs and young goats and 3,000 cattle to be sacrificed (2 Chronicles 35:7,18).
4. He recognized the key to victory.
Every leader must find the key to victory. For Josiah, the key was repentance. After the Book of the Law was discovered and read, he genuinely repented of his own sins and those of his people, then prompted his countrymen to follow his lead. Every leadership situation contains a key to victory—leaders must find that key and turn it.
5. He retained a personal commitment to succeed.
People never become more committed than their leader. Josiah’s personal commitment inspired the people to be faithful despite their evil desires and history (2 Chronicles 34:31). If members of an organization discover they have greater commitment than their leader, they will find another organization with another leader.
Helping Others Break Through for Victory
Achieving personal victory is necessary but not sufficient for leading your team to victory. For your organization to reach the next level, your team members need their own breakthroughs. Here are some tips to help them achieve their own triumphs:
1. Understand breakthrough timing.
There are three prime times for leading people to a breakthrough—people are ripe for a change when…
- They hurt enough that they need a breakthrough.
- They learn enough that they want a breakthrough.
- They receive enough that they are able to break through.
Provide your team members with learning opportunities, resources, and encouragement. Pay attention to where they are mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Then, give a little nudge to help them move forward.
2. Pray for a breakthrough.
The best thing you can do for your team members is to pray for them. Evangelist John Wesley observed, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” Ask God for a breakthrough then do your part to fulfill His plan.
3. Become a breakthrough person.
Most breakthrough people exhibit these qualities:
- Vulnerability: They realize they aren’t perfect, they can’t do it all, and they need God’s help.
- Humility: They’re not out to prove anything, and they don’t care who gets the credit.
- Transparency: They live their lives as open books. They admit where they’re falling short as well as where God is working in their lives.
4. Find breakthrough leaders.
Gathering strong leaders adept at breakthroughs will make a big difference to your team and organization.
If you want a winning team, you need winning players. If you can become a breakthrough leader—like Josiah—victory becomes inevitable…
May you achieve breakthrough and victory, as you shoot for the stars!