5 Steps to Sharpen Your Leadership Style in 2013

Many types of leaders and styles of leadership exist. Becoming intentional about your leadership style can make a big difference in your influence. Two of the most important questions today regarding leadership style may be: Who has God called me to lead? and How can I develop the most effective leadership style to do what God is calling me to do?

Here are 5 steps to sharpen your leadership style.

• Be Strengths-Smart:

Lead with your strengths. Knowing what your strengths are and how to best use them may be your greatest leadership asset. More than likely, you will lead with more effectiveness, influence, and success when you are leading with your strengths.

If you aren’t completely sure what your top strengths are ask 3 trusted co-workers, colleagues, or friends. You can also try using a strengths assessment or tool. “Strengths Based Leadership” by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie is one suggestion.

• Be Clear About Where You’re Going:

Know where you are going and where God is leading you. This is fundamental to great leadership. If you don’t know where you are going, why would anyone want to follow? In the wise words once spoken by King Solomon, If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed (Prov. 29:18, MSG).

Spend time seeking God in prayer. Ask Him to show you what He is up to in the people around you and where He is leading you. Then communicate your “vision.” You don’t need to have all the details worked out. You just need to let people know the “direction” in which you are heading.

• Be a Risk-Taker:

Be bold. Go where you believe God is leading you to go. Take risks and be willing to try something new. Dare to challenge your leadership style. When you are stretching and growing there is momentum. When the Holy Spirit is leading you, God infuses His power and dynamism into your leadership.

If you pray and sense God is leading you into something move on it. Seek out wise counsel. If you have a peace about it then courageously go forward. Courage fueled by God is unstoppable. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7 NKJV).

• Be Honoring to Your Followers:

Some of the best leaders today are servant-focused. This means understanding the greater needs of those following in your group, team, or ministry. Be sensitive and ask, “How can I best serve them?” Jesus said it well when speaking to His disciples: Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant… Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matt. 20:26-28 NKJV).

Deepen people’s trust and confidence in you, by reflecting Godly values in your life. Inspiring leaders understand they are in the people business. Make an effort to really come alongside of your fellow-followers and help them grow and develop. Showing them that you care speaks volumes. Be humble in your leadership role by recognizing that God is the one who has allowed you to have your position. God is the great leader and we are merely following in the footsteps of Jesus.

• Be Aware of Your “Unique”:

Acknowledging that God has uniquely created you is important; He did so for a reason. The more you understand that there is a purpose to who you are, the greater your leadership can be. There is only one you. Be genuine and confident in your leadership style. Nobody wants to follow anyone who isn’t authentic or doesn’t feel comfortable in their own skin.

Use your unique leadership qualities to your advantage for the greater work that God wants to do through your life. If you desire to know what makes you stand apart, try asking three people who know you well what they consider your unique qualities to be.