If you’ve read my blog at all, you know I’m passionate about discipleship.
I love to raise people up. It thrills me to see young people go from scared, self-doubters to passionate worship leaders. It’s my favorite part of what I do.
What about you?
At the end of your life, will you stand alone with your accolades or will you have others beside you – world changers you’ve discipled?
We’ve recently been talking about the dissatisfied generation. We’re never content with where we are but longing for something more. As I mentioned in this post, one way to rescue yourself from this way of life is to pour yourself into another – rescue your self-absorption by raising others up.
Rather than building your own kingdom, invest your life into others.
Do you realize your influence?
You see, as a leader you have influence. People look up to you. When you speak, it matters to them. When you’re excited about something, they get excited about it. When you want to get something done, they’re behind you.
Wouldn’t you say we need to leverage that influence for the good of others and the glory of God?
How do we push our team members to their highest potential? Or better yet, how do you become this type of leader – one that attracts other great leaders and raises them up?
I thought of at least 5 ways:
1. Speak Encouragement
It’s easy to assume this – to overlook speaking encouragement. Speak it and speak it often. When you see improvement, share it with someone. When you see the slightest good, celebrate it like it’s party time. Seriously. Go over and above to breathe encouragement to your team.
Trust me, they are listening.
2. Give Them Opportunity
If you want to raise others up, you need to have high expectations for them. Challenge them to do things they don’t think they can do. Don’t just speak it, give them opportunity to do it. Oftentimes this is exactly what they need to move to the next level.
They need to be given a chance.
There is risk involved here. You can probably do it better, quicker, more efficient, and with less stress. But if you’re always the guy on the front lines, how will anyone else learn to do it?
3. Love What You Do
People who reproduce and raise others up have a passion that burns inside of them. They’re defined by something. There’s a quality about them that attracts others. If you don’t love what you do and give your life to a cause, you won’t attract great people.
If you’re wondering if you love what you do, you probably don’t. Your life is constantly communicating a central passion – a unified focus.
That is what you’ll reproduce.
4. Be What You Want To See
Imagine if your team members adopted your outlook on life, your habits, your prayer schedule, your consistency in God’s Word. Would they succeed? Oftentimes we want to see massive change in others while our own habits suffer. Do some serious self-assessment.
- Am I living my passion?
- Am I reading God’s Word?
- Do I take time to really pray?
- Do I work hard to accomplish difficult things?
- Am I setting goals for my life?
5. Communicate God-sized Vision
No one will rise up and reach their highest potential under a safe, boring leader.
If all you communicate is manageable, easy goals, you’ll lose the imagination of your team. Present a compelling, captivating story to them.
Recently my pastor presented a vision from God to plant 100 churches in the next 10 years. Umm, what? After our church heard that message, many complacent church goers expressed how they wanted to be a part of those churches as youth pastors, children’s pastors, and leaders.
It’s sort of an oxymoron. That’s an impossible vision for us to accomplish. But that is exactly why people rose up. In order for it to happen, God would have to work the impossible through unlikely people. And that’s how God works.
Dream big. Communicate big. Lead your team to do great things.
We need you.
Question: How else can we push our team members to their highest potential? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Sandi Tattersall says
These words have so much truth in them. It is easier to just let things go along as they are. How does that help us all grow. Thanks again for the challenge.
David Santistevan says
I agree, Sandi. It takes a choice every day to be intentional about our leadership. It’s easier just to coast it out.
Stevan Lasorella says
Thanks David! You speak truth. This is something that God has really burdened me with lately. Leadership is SO important and when those of us who are in leadership aren’t LEADING mediocrity and complacency are soon to follow. I love what you said about BEING the change you want to see. I have such a burden for those in my sphere of influence but often don’t show the fruit in MY life that I want to see in theirs. Great challenge and just what I needed.
David Santistevan says
Glad to help, Stevan. Welcome to the comments, btw.
Becky says
These are great ways to challenge your team. Especially love the part about communicating a God sized vision. Great post!
David Santistevan says
Thanks Becky!
Ryan Gordon says
“Be what you want to see”
I love this. If people imitated us, would they be the person we want them to be? I’m feeling challenged in that in my own life now. It’s easy to be content with life being good, but I have to push past that “satisfaction” and really pursue God with all I have. If that’s what I want in my team members, I have to set the example.
Jon Stolpe says
What a great reminder. I was dealing with a situation at work yesterday where I had the opportunity to live this out. Thanks for capturing it here!
David Santistevan says
That’s awesome! Did everything work out OK?