Leaders Bring Clarity!
We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 2 Corinthians 11:6 (NIV 1984)
One of a leader’s primary contributions in the mission is to bring clarity to those they are leading. The old saying, “If you don’t know where you are going, then any road will get you there” is true for many. Leaders who fail to bring clarity settle for busyness and the assumption that lots of activity must mean that we are accomplishing something. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
As a leader, you have a platform to influence others through what you say and do. You will be quoted and you are being watched by others as they seek to follow your lead. Making sure that your quotes are worth repeating and that your example aligns with your mission and values is essential for clarifying direction. Intentionality and forethought are key.
The enemy is seeking to sow confusion and doubt about the mission direction and outcomes. He started with Eve, causing her to question God’s clear mandate about not eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Today’s pace of life and rapidly changing context also add to a lack of clarity on what we are doing and why. It’s clear for a moment and then that clarity fades very quickly as we engage in life’s activities.
As the leader, it is your responsibility to insure that there is no doubt as to what the mission is and what the directions / outcomes are for all. You will need to over-communicate this many times and in many ways, knowing that what is clear for the moment will become unclear as time passes.
The art of this ‘over-communication’ is the ability to say the same thing in many different ways so that it is heard and not dismissed. If you simply repeat the same thing, your audience will tune you out. Keeping the main thing the main thing and keeping it in clear focus for those you lead is a challenge!
Leaders bring clarity to the main thing! Keep the focus tight and clear! Don’t let mission creep sweep in and divert what was once a sharp, clear focus on your mission, values, and strategic directions. And just because you said it once, does not mean that you are understood or remembered.
How’s your clarity? Are you continuing to bring clarity on the main thing to those you lead?
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 