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Recognize the importance of Attitude to Leadership
From the Apostle Paul…
- “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:5).
- “Be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24)
- “Be imitators of Christ as dearly beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). As children love to imitate what they see and repeat what they hear; we also are charged to imitate and model Christ’s behavior and to be clear reflections of the Lord.
Jesus maintained a perfect attitude in every situation because He prayed about everything and worried about nothing. We, too, should seek God’s guidance about every aspect of our lives and allow Him to work out His perfect will without interference. Jesus’ attitude was never to become defensive, discouraged, or depressed because His goal was to please the Father rather than to achieve His own agenda. In the midst of trials, He was patient. In the midst of suffering, He was hopeful. In the midst of blessing, He was humble. Even in the midst of ridicule, abuse, and hostility, He “made no threats . . . and did not retaliate. Instead He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”
Not Selfish Ambition…but Humility
In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” That’s a great perspective on leadership. In his book Simplify, Bill Hybels encouraged readers to “find a life verse. And use it.” Shortly after reading that, I chose Philippians 2:3 for this season in my life. This verse helps me focus on serving others in my various life roles…
Before becoming Pope, Bergoglio wrote, “If we can develop a truly humble attitude, we can change the world.”
What’s Your Attitude?
God chooses what we go through. We choose how we go through it.
A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar. In other words, how people react to you has everything to do with your attitude. A good one brings people in; a bad one pushes people away.
As Proverbs 14:17 puts it, “A person who quickly loses his temper does foolish things. But a person with understanding remains calm.”
Consider this: your attitude determines how you handle your emotions (not how you feel). Your attitude can’t stop your feelings, but it can keep your feelings from stopping you.
The Power of a Positive Attitude
If you desire to be an effective leader, having a positive attitude is essential. It not only determines your level of contentment as a person, but it also has an impact on how others interact with you. A good attitude:
- Doesn’t ignore reality; it seeks to make the best of it.
- Turns problems into opportunities.
- Brings hope from discouragement.
- Is contagious.
President Thomas Jefferson said, “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”
Changing Your Attitude
Here’s a simple plan to change wrong attitudes:
- Say the right words
- Read the right books
- Listen to the right CDs
- Be with the right people
- Do the right things
- Pray the right prayer.
Repeat #1 every day, not only when you feel like it.
William James, a noted Psychologist, said, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind.”
Remember that your attitude:
- Is not automatically good just because you belong to God
- Is a choice
- Determines your approach to life
- Determines your relationships with people
- Is often the only difference between success and failure (“If you believe you can or if you believe you can’t, you’re probably right…”)
- At the beginning of a task will affect its outcome more than anything else
- Can give you an uncommonly positive perspective
- Can turn problems into blessings
May you approach today, tomorrow, and the future with a positive attitude, as you shoot for the stars!