Category: Leadership Skills

It’s already Week 41 of 2014! This week’s NIV Leadership Bible focuses on the importance of encouragement in relationships for a leader. Encouragement breeds success…and I’m living proof of that. My dad is the ultimate encourager…and my brother and I greatly benefitted from that growing up. First, he was always there for us…at our sporting events or other extra-curricular activities. After watching us, he would always find ways to share words of encouragement—no matter how we’d done or what the result. For that, I’m grateful, as I try to emulate that practice with my kids.

Few functions a leader performs are more important than that of keeping hope alive. Out of This World Leaders navigate the maze of despair and drive away darkness with positive projections for the future. They infuse others around them with optimism regarding themselves, others, and the future of the organization.

Let’s take a look at examples of encouragement from Zechariah, Jonathan & David, and Barnabas (the “Son of Encouragement”).

Click here to continue.

Monday kicked off Week 40 of 2014. This week’s NIV Leadership Bible focuses on the leadership skill of Empowerment. Empowering leaders share information, rewards, and power with team members, so they can take initiative and make decisions to solve problems—improving service and performance.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells his disciples they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem (where they are), in all Judea and Samaria (close to home), and to the ends of the earth. He starts by informing them, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” In this passage, Jesus demonstrates two keys to effective empowerment:

1. Jesus didn’t promise his disciples authority or influence—attributes they regularly argued about. Instead, he offered them “power,” or the resource they needed to do the job He gave them.
2. It’s important to note that Jesus had spent three years educating his disciples to lead the church. Then, he supplied what they needed to accomplish the task he gave them.

Leaders who empower others too early set up their followers for failure. On the other hand, leaders who fail to empower capable people create frustration.

To learn more about empowerment from the Bible, click here.