You are a powerful person. This means that you should consider the use of that power. Every person has an effect on others who are around them...EVERY person.
That is easy to believe when we see "High Producers" who affect people, such as a famous singer who's music affects you, or a mentor who's word inspires direction for your daily life routine.
It is not as easy to believe that others (every day, normal people) have the power to affect us, but it is true.
The guy on the curb, who holds up a sign
asking for money affects you.
You are moved to help, or moved to roll up your car window and pretend to be on the phone, in order to avoid his gaze. Also, there are thoughts that go through your mind about what he should do to change his condition. That guy has the power to affect your compassion or to make you uncomfortable.
My point is that every one has power to affect someone else.
The key is recognizing three things:
What is your gift and your power?
How does your power affect others?
How can you best use your gifts and power
to make a positive difference on others?
David Foster posted an article on his website:
In the article, David offers insight on the use of power of a leader. As believers,
we are called to be leaders -
...in our families, in our churches, on our jobs, in every area of our lives. His approach is written to those in specific positions of leadership, but I think if you read carefully, you can apply much of with he communicates to many areas of your life.
Take a look at it.
Five Legitimate Uses of Power - David Foster
If you’re a leader, you have to ask yourself this question almost every day, “What do I do that others can’t do? What do I do today with the position and the power that has been handed to me?”
A lot of leaders answer this question without thinking. But it’s incumbent upon every leader to ask themselves, “What are the legitimate uses of my power?” Here are five I can think of:
- Use your power to empower, which simply means you give everyone in the organization the permission to do their job, to carry out their task, and not be held up with endless bureaucracy and procedures. Empower the people in your organization, group, or company, and they will pay you back tenfold.
- Use your power to free-up. Don’t allow good people to be bogged down by endless levels of communication, procedure, or in-fighting. Where there are bottlenecks, step in and free-up the free-flow of meaningful action and creativity.
- Use your power to enrich. As a leader, you make the decision that your group will have a learning environment. Are the people you’re working with and leading feeling better for having worked with you and around you, and achieving a common goal? Enrich people that you have been given the responsibility to lead and they will enrich you.
- Use your power to take initiative. The leader is the one who has to do the first next right thing. You have to take action. People in your group and company will react, even overreact, and fail to act. And many times they’ll blame it on you because you’re the leader after all, and you have to initiate. You have to be a self-starter. You have to make sure that the momentum of the group is maintained.
- Use your power to protect. What are you supposed to protect? The people? Yes. The product? Certainly. The service? Of course. More importantly you protect the mission, vision, and goals of the organization. No one in your group is more important than the mission for which the group exists. All of you serve the mission, you promote the vision, and you take action that leads to the achievement of your stated goals. Protect the mission against apathy, and most importantly protect it against success.
Consider these words today. Apply them to your life - to your relationship with your marriage, your kids, your job, and with people you relate with in life who are affected by how they observe you in your walk with God
Lead with excellence.
t
