I was recently asked this by a few non-Christian friends and a devotional I recently read put it beautifully!

(Funny…or sad…that being in “ministry” leadership for five years I didn’t really have as clear an answer prior to this devo. Love the ways we gain clarity in this life!)

Here’s clarity.

“Ministry is talking about Jesus, serving Jesus, being Jesus where people are in need of Jesus. Ministry is the most exciting, stretching thing in the world.”

One of the greatest gifts you can give people is Time, Energy, & Affection.

Just read and tweeted about this amazing article and loved this quote referring to our issues with educating our kids.

“The problem is the same child can go and solve the most complex video game and struggle on basic math. The way we are teaching is not how the brain learns.”

She’s got her walking shoes on!

You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb. – Andrew Carnegie

This is a great repost of an article I read by Mark Miller who has a great blog called “Great Leaders Serve”, you should really check out. Most leaders who already think they’re great won’t bother but if you’re humble enough to learn something new (or again) stop by and check him out.

So the first question I’ve been wrestling with is: Are leaders really different? My answer is yes. Clearly, we all want our leaders to be dependable, honest, show integrity and be hard working, but our organizations demand more from leaders. Therefore, my next question was – How are leaders different?

Here’s a short list of six attributes that I believe you’re more likely to see in leaders than non-leaders. It’s not an exhaustive list, but most of the great leaders I’ve known personally, and those I’ve studied, have demonstrated some measure of the following traits.

Optimism – Men and women in leadership are generally optimistic. They see a preferred future and can envision a path to make it a reality – despite the obstacles.

Judgment – The best leaders have the ability to make good decisions – even when the data is incomplete.

Ownership – Great leaders are willing to take responsibility for their actions, the actions of those they lead and the outcomes of their efforts.

Initiative – Good leaders are known for being proactive. They are willing to act – and often, they are the first to act.

Courage – To lead well requires bold decisions, decisive decisions – to stand alone if necessary. To lead well requires courage.

Servanthood – The best leaders are motivated by a heart to serve. They want to serve the organization, their people, their customers and all their stakeholders.