Chuck Swindoll on Leadership

Randy is the cluster leader for the Clearfield Cluster, made up of twenty United Methodist churches in the area. The pastors of the cluster meet monthly for breakfast. Recently, we added a monthly gathering for personal growth.

One day a month, we meet for about 90 minutes (including lunch) to watch a leadership lesson on DVD. Randy and I have several DVDs of past Willow Creek Association Global Leadership Summits. Randy also won a set of DVDs from the 2009 Catalyst conference.

Recently, we watched a session in which Chuck Swindoll spoke at Catalyst. Swindoll, who’s been in ministry for 50 years, talks about God’s work of crushing in the lives of leaders. He offered ten things about leadership that he’s learned over the years.

  1. It’s lonely to lead. Leaders make the tough decisions.
  2. It’s dangerous to succeed, especially young. One needs to experience the crushing, the disappointment, the failure.
  3. It’s hardest at home.
  4. It’s essential to be real; to stay real.
  5. It’s painful to obey. God will ask things that are not easy.
  6. Brokenness and failure are necessary.
  7. My attitude is more important than my actions.
  8. Integrity eclipses image (what you do behind the scenes, rather than up front).
  9. God’s way is better than my way.
  10. Christlikeness begins and ends with humility.

Swindoll concluded with a list of statements worth remembering about the next 50 years …

  1. Do more with others, less alone (accountability).
  2. Whenever you do it, emphasize quality, not quantity.
  3. Wherever you do it, do it the same as if you were among those who know you best (keep from exaggerating).
  4. Whoever may respond, keep a level head.
  5. However long you may lead, keep on dripping with gratitude and grace.

Insight from a seasoned leader!

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