body-container-line-1

INITIATIVE: A LEADERSHIP TRAIT

By totalfamilylife.com
Religion & Spirituality Leadership
JUL 6, 2014 LISTEN
Leadership

Pastor E. A Adeboye
Memorize: for even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us an example, that ye should follow his step (1 PET 2:21)

MARK 4-6
READ: proverbs 3:5-6
Ants are very unique creatures we must learn from. Their size is so negligible that you can easily tread on them unknowingly. Yet, they keep amazing us with their feats. Proverbs 6:7 says they do not need guides, overseers or rulers to achieve their goals. You can hardly say that of any human being. Jeremiah 10: 23 says, O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not on man that walketh to direct his step. Human beings are so limited that they cannot see beyond their nose. This is why you must acquaint God with all your plans and receive his direction. The other thing to note here is that ants do not need physical guides, overseers or rules because God steps ahead of them, and they follow. 1pet 2:21 says for even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us an example, that ye should follow his step like God has gone ahead of the ants, Christ has gone ahead of us. His footprints are everywhere for us to see and fellow but unlike ants, we refuse to follow them. Rather than follow the steps of the master, we are searching for the footprints of mortals. As long as you refuse to take his steps, you will continue to be in want of direction, unlike ants. Another lesson here is that ants have a high level of initiative. For you to be without external direction and yet achieve laudable goals and objectives, you must have a good dose of initiative. Initiative refers to the ability to know what is appropriate to do, and go ahead and do it without being told. If you must succeed in secular and ministerial assignments, you must have initiative. This virtue distinguishes the men from the boys, managers from subordinates, the outstanding from mediocre. If you see something going wrong and cannot take a bold step to prevent or correct it, you may simply be lacking initiative. One trait that is sought for in leaders and those who would be chosen to lead their peers is initiative. The more of it you have, the less of external direction you require to succeed. The fellow who always awaits order before knowing what to do, may never amount to anything in life. Those with initiative think ahead. They think for their leaders. They are proactive. They complain less but act more. They are problem solvers. They are self-motivated. How much initiative do you apply in your daily assignment? A child with initiative will perform assignment, take steps to forestall problems and answer unasked question. In the process, he develops into a great thinker, inventor, or creator. Do you have initiative?

body-container-line