LEADERS ARE PERFECTIONISTSknew my natural inclination to “take the lead” in most situations. I have
often had to MAKE myself back off and let others “try their wings.” In
mentoring others, I have learned that, if I always “take the lead,” and
have the “final say” on every issue, I will frustrate the leadership gifts of
others. I would stunt their growth as growing young leaders. Wise parents
and wise leaders must not only allow, they must encourage others to take
the lead. It is an emotional truism that says: “If we always do for others
what they can do for themselves, we create an emotional cripple.” In the process
we also destroy their individual initiative.
Whether in our physical children or our spiritual children, we must
encourage them to “try their wings...leave the nest...move out of their
comfort zone...step out of our shadows...take control...take the lead.”
Even though they may falter and fail – just as we do – we must encourage
them to “move out” and “move up” for God. That’s the joy of parenting
- physically and spiritually!
Principle:
“When we do for others what they are capable of doing
for themselves, we ultimately destroy initiative and
produce an emotional cripple.”A motivation towards perfection is a very good leadership quality – but
only as it is kept in balance by realistic expectations. Every leader should
strive to do his very best at everything he does. He should seek to
motivate others to do the same. However, he also must learn both balance
and priority in this.
He must first learn to balance perfection with reality – a lesson I am still
learning! A leader’s desire to do things well must be constantly tempered
with the reality that there was only one perfect person who ever lived – and that
was Jesus Christ! His work alone is the one that is stamped with perfection
and marked by completion. All of the rest of us will by nature often do
many things poorly.
Leaders must also learn to temper their perfectionism with priorities. Not all
things are of equal importance. Not all things should receive the same