FOLLOW THE LEADERWhen leaders have this long-range BIG PICTURE in mind, they are
not nearly as upset or troubled by the normal failures and temporary
set-backs that are always faced in life and leadership. They know that if
the Lord does not immediately return, they will always have tomorrow to
either continue their work – or start all over again. With this perspective,
leaders make decisions more in terms of tomorrow rather than today. By
nature, leaders have to be forward-looking and future-oriented – rather than
backward-looking and past-oriented. As a result of this future orientation,
leaders are not overly preoccupied with either their past failures or present
victories. It has often been said that most people live in the present, through
the past in fearful anticipation of the future. As a result of being negatively
bound to the past, they forfeit both the present and the future. Leaders,
on the other hand, view the past – and live in the present – in anticipation
of the future. They glance at the past...glimpse the present...but gaze into the
future. Mature spiritual leaders eagerly embrace the future through the
confidence of the Psalmist when He exclaimed:
“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done.
Th e things You planned for us no one can recount to You” (Ps.
40:5).Even after facing difficulty or defeat, the spiritual leader continues to
press on into the future, believing God’s promise to His people:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord,
‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11).As a result of this time perspective, leaders do not spend a lot of time
dwelling on past problems...grieving over former failures...mulling over
minor mistakes...putting out yesterday’s fire...or crying over spilt milk.
They focus on today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s potential – rather than on
yesterday’s failures or mistakes. Learning to successfully deal with failures and
mistakes is one of the most important lessons for any leader.
By way of summary, good leaders are good planners. The better the planning,
the better the possibility of success – and the greater their success, the
more others will want to follow them. Successful leaders have a plan...
work their plan...stick to their plan. Because they believe in good planning
and preparation, wise leaders do not just “wing it”...“fly by the seat of