Excellence in Leadership

by Dag Heward-Mills

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Copyright 2008 Dag Heward-Mills

Published by Dag Heward-Mills on Smashwords.

E mail Dag Heward-Mills

info@daghewardmillsbooks.org

evangelist@daghewardmills.org

Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

http://www.daghewardmills.org

http://www.daghewardmills.org/healingjesuscrusade/

http://www.daghewardmills.org/lci/

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Contents

Chapter 1 - Get People to Follow You Somewhere

Chapter 2 - Mix Truth with Grace to Gain More Followers

Chapter 3 - The Eight Greatest Decisions of a Leader

Chapter 4 - Carefully Choose Your Mentors

Chapter 5 - Inspire People

Chapter 6 - Find Solutions and Solve Problems

Chapter 7 - Be a Thinker

Chapter 8 - Reproduce Yourself in Others

Chapter 9 - Be a Can-Do Leader

Chapter 10 - Accept the Reality of Loneliness

Chapter 11- Don’t Forget Those Who Helped You

Chapter 12 - Translate Your Vision into Reality

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Chapter 1

Get People to Follow You Somewhere

Jesus was able to get people to follow Him. If you are a leader in the Body of Christ, you must be able to make people follow you. How do you do this?

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Mark 1:17

Three Steps to Make People Follow You

1. Be yourself.

When a young man proposes marriage to a young lady he is trying to get her to follow him. The proposal must come from the bottom of his heart. I did not read a speech to my wife when I proposed to her. The most successful leaders are those who are “real.”

People love to hear leaders speaking naturally from their hearts rather than reading boring speeches that say all the right things. No one wants to follow a pretender!

2. Believe totally in where you are going.

You must believe in the future your leadership is creating. If you propose marriage to someone, you must believe that you are going to give yourself and the young lady a good future.

3. Go yourself where you are trying to get people to follow you.

You cannot get people to pray if you do not pray yourself. I have found it easier to make people pray by just leading them in a prayer meeting. When my people see me praying they are highly motivated to pray. Pastors who tell their members to do one thing when they do something else, often do not get good results.

Chapter 2

Mix Truth with Grace to Gain More Followers

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

The glory of Jesus Christ is in His presentation of truth with grace. Truth without grace is dangerous. Truth without grace will eliminate most of the followers of Christ.

Most Christians would not make the mark if God dealt with us based on only the truth. Let’s face it, how many Christians really do what the pastor tells them to do? How many Christians walk in love and forgive one another? If the church were to wipe out its mistake-laden members, most churches would be empty. King David described it well in Psalm 130:3.

If thou, LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Psalm 130:3

A good leader always combines a mixture of truth and grace when dealing with his followers. A mixture of truth and grace will allow some of your followers to straighten out and become great ministers.

However, with some people, even the grace of God does not change them.

I have many sons and daughters in the ministry who have turned out well after a mixture of grace and truth had been applied to their lives. Truth without grace would have eliminated many of the wonderful ministers and leaders who work with me today.

Four Examples of How to Use a Mixture of Grace and Truth

1. Jesus knew the truth about Judas but He mixed it with grace.

Jesus could have moved on Judas because He knew the truth – that Judas was a betrayer! Jesus allowed Judas to benefit from the grace of God. He mixed truth with grace to give Judas a chance but Judas ended up destroying himself.

I allow people to destroy themselves if that is their destiny. I am not in a hurry to prove anything. I believe that people will either straighten out or destroy themselves eventually.

When people come to me with accusations against pastors I tell them, “If I confront this person, he will deny the accusation. I will just leave him to the grace of God and to time. If he is destined to destroy himself he will. If he is destined to straighten himself out, he will!”

2. Jesus knew the truth about Peter but He mixed it with grace.

Jesus knew that Peter was open to satanic and worldly influences but He still worked with him. Jesus did not disconnect from Peter.

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Matthew 16:23

Jesus knew the truth about Peter – that he slept at prayer meetings. But the grace of God allowed Jesus to continue to work with Peter. Jesus overlooked Peter’s frailties.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Matthew 26:40

Jesus knew the truth about Peter. Jesus knew Peter would let Him down but He still worked with him. Jesus did not disconnect Himself from Peter. He forgave him.

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

John 13:38

Jesus knew the truth about Peter, that he would leave the ministry and backslide into secular work. After all the training that Peter had received, he abandoned the ministry and went back to fishing. Jesus did not change the plans He had for Peter.

There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

John 21:2,3

All these bad things about Peter were true, but the glory of Christ is in the glory of truth presented with grace. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. In the end, Peter turned out to be a great leader of the church. That is what truth mixed with grace can do.

3. Jesus knew the truth about Thomas but He mixed it with grace.

Thomas did not believe that Christ could rise from the dead. And Jesus knew it. The truth about this great apostle was that he did not believe in the resurrection. The grace of God gave Thomas another opportunity to become a believer. And he did. A mixture of grace and truth gave birth to another ardent follower.

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 20:26-29

4. Jesus knew the truth about the ten disciples but He mixed it with grace.

Jesus knew the truth about His disciples. He knew that His disciples would desert Him when He needed them the most.

…Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Matthew 26:56

Many of Jesus’ disciples went back to their secular jobs after Jesus left.

There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

John 21:2,3

The grace of God made Jesus ignore the frailties, weaknesses and mistakes of His followers. He overlooked their faults and allowed His men to become mighty apostles. If you overlook the faults of your followers, work with them, and pray for them, you will bear more fruit.

Leadership Is the Art of Overlooking Faults

Leadership can also be described as the art of overlooking faults. It is almost impossible to effectively lead without intentionally overlooking faults, mistakes, and shortcomings of others. This is because God has called you to lead human beings and not angels. If God had called you to lead a group of angels you would not need to overlook any faults.

I sometimes wonder why human beings find it so difficult to overlook the mistakes of others.

I thank the Lord for people who have accommodated and still accommodate my shortcomings.

Many of the nice people I work with have faults. It is not that I don’t see their shortcomings, but I realize that I must give them many opportunities to grow out of that stage.

If you cut off the hands of your child because he touched something you asked him not to, would he ever grow up to become a responsible citizen? By the time he is an adult, he would have neither arms nor legs because you would have amputated all his limbs for his numerous mistakes during childhood!

A leader is someone who intentionally overlooks glaring faults and gives people the opportunity to become great.

Do not give up on the people you are investing in. See into the future and know that whatever you have sown will definitely be reaped. If you have spent time teaching and training people, they will grow up to be responsible leaders. If you have invested in the lives of people, it will definitely yield something.

Do not be overwhelmed by the shortcomings of those you trust. Give it some time. A leader is a father. And every father believes that one day his son will become somebody great.

Chapter 3

The Eight Greatest Decisions of a Leader

1. To be born again

The beginning of wisdom is to fear God. The very first decision of your life is to take Jesus as your Saviour.

Any other decision that does not consider Him is foolishness.

2. To be a committed Christian You have several choices. You can be committed to education, politics or sports. A person who chooses to be committed to Christ by giving his time and energy to Him will discover that he has made one of the greatest decisions of his life.

3. To choose the Bible as your most important book

Put all the books you know about on the left, but put the Bible on the right on its own. The Bible is different from any other book on this earth.

F.F. Bruce said on page 15 of The New Testament Documents, “The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt. It is a curious fact that historians have often been much readier to trust the New Testament than have many theologians.”

4. To marry the right person

The person you marry will prove to be a challenge to you. That decision is one of the most important you will ever make.

5. To choose the right church

The church you belong to makes a world of difference.

6. To follow the right person

Whether you believe it or not, everyone follows someone else. We all have spoken or unspoken heroes or mentors we look up to. The one you choose will make all the difference in your life.

Paul advised his church members to follow him.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:12

7. To choose the right city, country and people to live amongst

Since your success is connected to a place, your choice of where to live is very important. Make this decision very early in your life and you will experience great success as a leader.

8. To choose the right friends Your choice of friends is one of the most important decisions of your life. Whether you like it or not, your friendships help to carve your future. Show me your friends and I will predict your future.

Chapter 4

Carefully Choose Your Mentors

A mentor is someone who is an advisor, guide, counsellor, teacher, and tutor to you. Your mentor is a picture of your future. There are several ways to predict the future. One of the ways is to simply look at someone’s mentor.

If you look at Joshua you could predict his future by looking at his mentor, Moses. You could predict the future of Peter, James and John by looking at their mentor, Jesus. You could predict the future of Elisha by looking at his mentor, Elijah. There are several people who have mentored me.

There are some things I would not like to have in my life. I see them in some of the people who are ahead of me. Because of this, I carefully choose who mentors me. Someone who has lived long, achieved a lot, worked faithfully for the Lord, and stayed successfully married would be a good mentor.

Eight Things a Leader Should Know about Mentoring

1. Not every successful person can be your mentor.

Not everyone in the world can be your mentor. God has chosen certain people to mentor you.

2. You can be mentored from afar.

Someone who does not even know you can mentor you. Most of the mentors I have do not know me personally. They have mentored me through their books and tapes.

3. Your future can be predicted by looking at your mentor.

You could predict the future of Peter, James and John by looking at their mentor, Jesus.

4. You can be mentored to a greater or lesser extent depending on how close you become to your mentor.

Jesus did not affect everyone in the same way. He had five hundred people whom He appeared to after He rose from the dead. He had one hundred and twenty people who waited for the Holy Ghost in the upper room. And He had twelve disciples who followed Him everywhere. He also had a whole lot of women who ministered to Him of their substance.

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke 8:1-3

Then he had Mary, His mother, and Mary Magdalene who stood by the cross during His last moments on earth. He had the inner core made up of Peter, James and John. Then he had Peter who was the head of His team. He also had John whom He loved specially.

5. Almost every successful Bible character had a mentor.

a. Jesus’ mentor was the Father.

b. Jesus was the mentor of Peter, James and John.

c. Joshua’s mentor was Moses.

d. Elisha’s mentor was Elijah.

6. You cannot mentor a proud person.

You cannot be mentored if you are too proud to learn from another.

7. There are natural and spiritual mentors.

Moses had a natural mentor in Pharaoh. He learnt about leadership and government from Pharaoh. David also studied leadership and government in the courts of his mentor, the demonised King Saul. These were natural mentors given by God to train His servants in natural things. After this natural training, spiritual training takes place. I received my natural training from my parents and from my formal education. My medical training has provided me with an essential part of my preparation for ministry.

8. Your mentor is a human being.

Pick the good things and leave the bad ones. When you are served with a meal, and you do not like something on the plate, you eat what you like and leave the rest!

Chapter 5

Inspire People

I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

Acts 20:33-37

A leader is somebody who inspires the people around him. Human beings are emotional!

Study closely the results of almost any election and you will discover that people vote by their emotions. Some regions in a country may vote en bloc for certain individuals. A true leader must recognize the emotional nature of human beings and must lead people with that in mind.

You must be able to speak in a way that inspires people to follow you. How would you be able to lead people to give their lives to the Lord if your speeches are lifeless and emotionless?

Notice how people wept after Paul finished preaching.

And they all wept sore and fell on Paul’s neck…

Acts 20:37

Decide to be an inspiring and motivational leader. Put away your lifeless speeches and speak from your heart. Practise this until you find yourself doing it naturally and easily. Once again, to do this you need to operate from the bottom of your heart. Peter said,

…such as I have give I thee…

Acts 3:6

You cannot motivate people if you yourself are not motivated. You cannot affect the emotions of anyone unless you yourself are emotional about what you are doing.

Chapter 6

Find Solutions and Solve Problems

Finding solutions and solving problems will distinguish you from other people. One of the last instructions I give my staff when I’m travelling is: “Solve problems, I’ll be back.”

I am happy to have people who can solve problems. Every assignment you will ever get has problems associated with it. The man who can solve problems as they come up, is the one who is truly valuable and truly a leader!

When I give someone an assignment, I expect him to return to me having accomplished it. Unfortunately, many employees only come back with more problems.

Sometimes, I look at them with amazement as they tell me about all the problems that they have encountered. Most of the time, I just tell them to solve those problems, and come back with results. The greatness of an employee is in his ability to find the solutions to all the problems that arise on the job.

Moses’ assignment was to take the people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Surely, he ran into all sorts of problems. First, there was the Red Sea, then there was no water, then there was no food. Then they found water but it was bitter. After this, Moses began to have management problems. People began to complain and murmur. Then he had problems of insubordination with his employees and relatives. As you can see, for Moses to lead his people out of Egypt he had to be able to solve all sorts of problems.

The world is also full of unsolvable problems. There are problems everywhere; there are difficulties at every turn.

Everyone is looking for someone who will be able to take them forward. Moses stood by the Red Sea and faced a crisis. The advancing Egyptian army was breathing down his neck. How could there be a way forward? But Moses found a solution.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground…

Exodus 14:21,22

If you are a pastor, one of the difficult problems that you will face is how to make your church grow. You must strive to lead the people into growth and prosperity. It is not easy, but that is the job of the leader.

A successful pastor is someone who has solved the problem of making the church grow.

If you are a business person, you will be faced with the difficulty of making profits in the face of stiff competition. Your job is to lead your company into success. If you are a political leader you will be faced with corruption, industrial action and betrayal at all levels. How can you make something good out of a desperate situation? Remember that it is the leader’s job to find solutions and solve problems.

The Master Key to Finding Solutions and Solving Problems

The master key is wisdom. The Bible teaches that Solomon was a very wise man and he became the richest man that ever lived. He became a stable political leader. He had peace and stability in his reign. These things came by the wisdom of God.

Can wisdom solve problems? The Bible teaches about a city that was in crisis. Enemy forces surrounded it and there was no hope for anyone. However, deliverance came to the city through a poor but wise man. Solutions for impossible situations come through wisdom.

There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

Ecclesiastes 9:14,15

Two Ways to Receive Wisdom

1. Wisdom comes through reading.

Read the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes everyday and ask God to give you wisdom for the affairs of this life. Take it from me. Life is full of impossible situations. Life is full of problems with no solutions. That is why God raises up leaders, to help bring answers to questions that have no answers.

2. Wisdom comes through prayer.

The most important prayer for a leader is the prayer for wisdom. A leader must constantly ask God for wisdom.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5

Chapter 7

Be a Thinker

Every good doctor must be able to diagnose the problem of his patient. Making a diagnosis is eighty per cent of the solution. Your job as a leader is to think about the problem, listen to the story, examine the situation and come up with an analysis of what is going on.

When you do not think about the work you are doing, you often cannot do it well. You must be consumed with your work, and you must think about it all the time. Anyone who does not think about his work will not do well.

As someone said, “You will only be remembered for your obsession.”

I notice that some of my employees hardly think of the jobs that they do. Their minds are not on it. They are not obsessed, and it shows.

Six Advantages of Being a Leader Who Thinks about His Work

1. A great thinker always comes up with solutions to intractable problems.

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Ecclesiastes 4:1

2. A leader who thinks about his work constantly comes up with improvement.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

3. A leader who thinks a lot about his work will hear the Spirit of God whispering direction.

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Proverbs 24:32

4. A leader who thinks will be open to brilliant and life-changing ideas.

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Ecclesiastes 9:13,16

5. A leader who thinks a lot will come up with new goals and visions.

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

Ecclesiastes 1:16

6. A leader who thinks a lot will receive wisdom.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

Ecclesiastes 1:13

Three Keys to Becoming a Great Thinker

1. Wait on God.

2. Read books which expand your imagination and frontiers of knowledge.

3. Think more deeply about whatever you see or hear.

Allow your mind to consider issues when they come up. Do not just take things at the surface level.

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

Ecclesiastes 3:10

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

Ecclesiastes 5:13

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

I have often had to think about the state of affairs of my church. I am constantly analysing what is going on; therefore, I am constantly taking decisions.

Once, I was having a discussion with one of my contractors and I told him, “I am the most important person you need to talk to about this project.” I continued, “I think about this project more than the architects do.”

A good leader analyses his work and its related problems all the time. Perhaps the reason why you are ineffective as a leader is that your heart and your mind are not constantly on your assignment.

King Solomon analysed the problem of poverty around him. He concluded that much of the problem was caused by lack of hard work. He figured out that if he could deal with sleep and folding of arms there would be more prosperity.

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 24:32-34

Chapter 8

Reproduce Yourself in Others

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:1

Being a good leader involves reproducing yourself in others. God made us in His image. He reproduced images of Himself in us. When He sees us walking, He can see Himself.

If you have a forty-year-old son who depends on you for everything, you have failed as a leader. But if you have a forty-year-old son who does not need you anymore to survive, then you have successfully trained up your child.

Leadership is not the art of making a whole lot of people dependent on one person.

Jesus, the perfect leader, was constantly preparing His disciples for the time when He would no longer be with them. A good leader is someone who is reproducing himself in others so that he is no longer essential. Jesus used phrases like, “When the time shall come,” “In a little while” and “In that day.” What day was He referring to – the day when He would no longer be around. Every leader must prepare himself for that day.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me…

John 16:4,5

A little while, and ye shall not see me…

John 16:16

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing…

John 16:23

The better your leadership, the more sons and daughters you will have. Your absence will not matter because you have reproduced yourself in so many others.

Five Ways to Reproduce Yourself in Others

1. Be a father.

When you have the heart of a father, those that relate with you will naturally relate to you as sons.

2. Be a teacher.

Do not assume that people will learn things by osmosis. You must actually teach them what you want them to know.

3. Be a friend.

Through friendship you will informally pass on many lessons.

4. Expose them to the challenges of ministry.

Experience teaches you what a hundred years of schooling cannot.

5. Send them into the ministry.

There are certain things people will never learn until they are sent.

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith… For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Titus 1:4,5

Chapter 9

Be a Can-Do Leader

Twenty-five Statements of a Can-Do Man

1. All things are possible.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:37

2. Let us work hard.

3. Let us try it. Let us give it a chance.

4. We have nothing to lose.

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

2 Kings 7:1-3

5. Let us copy the one who has done it successfully.

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:12

6. I will do it even if no one helps me.

7. We are as good as those who have done it.

8. It is not too late to learn something new.

9. Let us make the change now.

10. It is not too late to start.

11. Let us start right now.

12. Let us work until it is finished.

13. Let us not go home till we have accomplished it.

14. I will never give up.

15. I have no time for the opposition.

16. God is the same; He will help us in the same way.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

17. Why not?

18. I will survive.

19. I will shine.

20. I will not stay down forever.

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.

Micah 7:8

21. My enemies will be disappointed.

22. I want your opinion.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Matthew 16:13

23. Though my beginning is small, my end shall be great.

24. Let us go.

25. Let us try the new plan.

Secrets of the Can-Do Leader

1. A can-do leader does not mind being in the minority.

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Numbers 13:31

2. A can-do leader has an independent opinion about what to do.

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Numbers 13:30

3. A can-do leader sees good and positive things.

And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

Numbers 14:7

4. A can-do leader goes into action at once.

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Numbers 13:30

5. A can-do leader knows that every project can, and should start immediately if it is to succeed.

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30 He knows that visions often die when they are delayed.

6. A can-do leader is loyal to his father.

Joshua was faithful to Moses. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Numbers 14:6

7. A can-do leader does not allow negative people to influence him, but rather influences them.

And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Numbers 14:6

8. A can-do leader has faith in God.

If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Numbers 14:8

9. A can-do leader is ready to fight.

10. A can-do leader is ready to die.

11. A can-do leader is ready to take a risk.

12. A can-do leader does not see himself as a grasshopper.

And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 13:33

13. A can-do leader is unpopular when he is in a backward and unprogressive community.

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

Numbers 14:10

14. A can-do leader is not intimidated by the enemy.

Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

Numbers 14:9

15. A can-do leader has a spirit of boldness.

Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

Numbers 14:9

16. A can-do leader has a spirit of adventure and discovery that leads to development.

17. A can-do leader will be vindicated in the long run.

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

Numbers 14:10

Chapter 10

Accept the Reality of Loneliness

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

2 Timothy 4:16

The very nature of leadership makes you a lonely person. To be a leader means to be ahead of the crowd. Leaders are lonely people. Many decisions are left to them. They have no one to help them when it comes to certain things.

Loneliness is the way of all leaders. They often have no one to share their problems with. They cannot voice their fears openly.

Many followers feel that their leaders are fearless but any honest leader will tell you about real fears that ravage his mind on a daily basis.

Many followers think that their leaders will live forever. But the leader often fears that he could die suddenly. Who can the leader speak to about his marital problems? Who would understand that the pastor also has a problem? No one! This is what makes leaders lonely. Leaders must fellowship with other leaders. All they have is each other.

When a leader comes up with a new vision, old friends often back off. Once again, the leader is left all alone. When the Lord was sending a message to the churches in Asia, the message was sent to the leaders of the churches. Leaders are often alone when they hear God speaking to them. The Bible tells us how Moses went up into the mountain and waited on God for forty days and forty nights.

The word “consecration” means “to be set apart.” If you have been consecrated as a leader, it means that you have been set apart in many ways. That is the responsibility of a leader. This is the reason why leaders are often paid much more than followers. It is an attempt to compensate them for the cost of leadership.

Eight Leaders Who Experienced Loneliness

1. Jesus prayed alone in the garden of Gethsemane whilst everyone else slept.

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:39,43,44

He went to the cross alone whilst everyone ran away.

Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Matthew 26:56b

2. Elijah was alone in the wilderness when he was fed by ravens.

That is where he heard the call of God.

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

1 Kings 19:4,5

3. John the Baptist lived a lonely life in the wilderness.

He was described as a voice crying in the wilderness.

As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Luke 3:4

Do not be depressed if you seem to be a lonely voice in a wilderness. It is part of the call to leadership.

4. David spent many lonely years running away from King Saul.

Even outsiders noticed that he was alone.

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

1 Samuel 21:1 5.

Jonah was the only person cast out of the ship.

He went alone into the belly of the fish. He prayed out of that dark hole and God heard him.

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,

Jonah 2:1

6. Noah and his family were the only ones who went into the ark.

The whole world was full of wickedness. Not even one other human family went along with him.

And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Genesis 7:1

7. Abraham was selected out of his family.

God separated him into a life of loneliness away from the country and the family that he knew.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Genesis 12:1

8. Moses was alone when he met the Lord in a burning bush.

He was also alone when he went up to the mountain.

And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

Exodus 24:2

Chapter 11

Don’t Forget Those Who Helped You

And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Deuteronomy 8:2

The Lord took the Israelites out of Egypt and warned them about forgetting all that He had done for them.

In the natural world, it is important to remember whose seed you are. It is important to remember your mother and your father. Remember the provision they made for you.

You must remember those who helped you to go to school and who put food on your plate for many years. Unfortunately, with the passage of time many people forget where they came from. They also forget how they came to have the blessings they have. Others want people to think that they are self-made and have had no input from anywhere.

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God…

Deuteronomy 8:10-14

A good leader is someone who remembers who inspired, motivated and influenced him. A good leader is someone who remembers his teachers. One of the first tenets of the physician’s oath speaks of doctors remembering their teachers. Remembrance is important in every sphere of life. A good leader remembers the one who believed in him when he was nothing. A good leader remembers the one who helped him financially, and advised him.

When leaders forget, they often become rebellious. Pastors who have bad memories often do not preach well because they cannot give testimonies of what God has done. My preaching is full of testimonies of what the Lord has brought me through.

A leader who has a bad memory lacks true compassion. He cannot remember where he came from. When he sees someone in the same state he had been in a few years before, he cannot relate with the person. This is unfortunate! The Bible teaches us that God brings us through situations so that we will be able to help others one day.

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation…or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:6

Paul said very clearly, that the experiences that he had had were for the benefit of others.

A dangerous feature of a leader with a bad memory is that he may mock those who once helped him. He may even despise those below him.

All these traits have dangerous consequences. This is why I am teaching that a good leader must have a good memory.

I try to remember the difficult times I have had in ministry. I try to remember the mistakes I have made in ministry. It gives me a lot of compassion for those coming after me. I remember the days I was ridiculed and criticized by all and sundry because I had begun a new church. That is why I am very sympathetic towards up and coming pastors.

Chapter 12

Translate Your Vision into Reality

What dreams do you have? If you are a leader, you will be able to make those dreams a reality. Everyone has dreams. But when a leader dreams it becomes a reality. I have a dream of many souls being saved. I have a dream of many churches being established. I have a dream of fulfilling my ministry. I believe I can see these dreams come to pass. What are you doing about your dreams? If there is a leader in you, rise up and pay the price to have your dreams come true. What is the key to realizing your visions and dreams? You must be determined and ready to make great sacrifices.

*******

Other Best-Selling Books by Dag Heward-Mills:

Loyalty and Disloyalty

Leaders and Loyalty

Transform Your Pastoral Ministry

The Art of Leadership

Model Marriage

Church Planting

The Mega Church

Lay People and the Ministry

These titles are also available in Spanish and/or French. Information about other foreign translations of some of the titles above may be obtained by writing to our email address.

Table of Contents

Get People to Follow You Somewhere

Mix Truth with Grace to Gain More Followers

The Eight Greatest Decisions of a Leader

Carefully Choose Your Mentors

Inspire People

Find Solutions and Solve Problems

Be a Thinker

Reproduce Yourself in Others

Be a Can-Do Leader

Accept the Reality of Loneliness

Don’t Forget Those Who Helped You

Translate Your Vision into Reality