“We should not expect to ever lead others to a level of true excellence in leadership without being willing to model that same level of excellence in our own lives. Character influences character.” Todd Gongwer, LEAD for God’s Sake!
LEAD for God’s Sake by Todd Gongwer was recommended to me by a friend that I work with. She shared the basic premise of the story with me and let me know that she intended to take her team through this book. This is a lady that I have a great deal of respect for, so I immediately ordered a copy for myself. LEAD for God’s Sake is a parable about finding the heart for leadership. This is a very quick read and it plays out like one of those feel good sports movies that we all enjoy. It centers around a high school basketball coach and his team. I really enjoyed the story as I have the privilege of serving high schoolers all day every day.
The purpose of this book is to help the leader answer the question “Why do you lead?” What is the ultimate purpose behind what you do? Are you in it for short term results or the eternal investment? Relationships and purpose are two of the main focus points of this book. This is a book that I’ll definitely be passing along to friends!
I highlighted a few things while reading that I’ll post below…
- leadership always involves influence, which in one way or another flows from the character of an individual, we would be much better served were we to begin our own journey of leadership defining just what leadership should mean.
- We should not expect to ever lead others to a level of true excellence in leadership without being willing to model that same level of excellence in our own lives. Character influences character.
- Leadership is one part influence and two parts responsibility: As people of influence, we must always take responsibility for our contribution to problems that arise around us.
- Our influence on others, when genuinely motivated by love, is essentially how God works through us.
- We are called to leadership because we are called to influence others in the right ways and for the right reasons. Genuinely loving those God has placed in our life’s path is the starting point of that leadership. Add to that a commitment to using every ability God has given us to be the best that we can be, regardless of what we do or where we are, and you have a recipe for leadership success!
- We can accomplish everything possible in this world, win every game we compete in, build the greatest business, or graduate with every degree imaginable, but if that the end of the day, when the chips are called in, we failed in the relationships God designed us for along the way, we never really became the best we could’ve been, plain and simple.