Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 381

Notable Voices (July 5, 2012)

9 Lies Pastors Believe While They’re Preaching -- Ben Reed

Every pastor would love to think his congregation is fully engaged with every word of his sermon. But if he's honest with himself, he knows they aren't. As Ben points out, though, even as we are preaching, we, the preacher, can even zone out.

Singapore Pastor Charged With Using Church Funds for Wife’s Pop Career -- Bloomberg News

In a sad twist, a megachurch pastor in Singapore has been arrested and charged with pilfering around $18M (US) from his church to help fund the singing career of his wife.

100 Quotes from You on Sanctification -- Jonathan Parnell

Jonathan has been collecting reader submissions for quotes on the topic of sanctification for an upcoming conference. This collection of the top 100 submissions details God's work and our response in the work of sanctification.

12 Questions For Fathers -- Greg Breazeale

Earlier this week (and last) I wrote about 12 lessons of fatherhood. So when I came across this list of 12 questions about how I relate to your kids and some practical advice to put your answers into practice, I knew it needed to be shared.

When Living With Mom and Dad is a Bad Idea -- Dave Ramsey

Dave provides some advice here that many parents across America could use. "Failure to launch" is a very real issue in our society, and one which needs to be addressed. Dave does a great job addressing the problem even though it is posed as a bit of a reversal here.

Narcissism: The Difference Between High Achievers and Leaders -- Justin Menkes

Justin works as a consultant for many Fortune 500 companies. His article details a challenge he's faced with often in his role: finding successors for CEOs. His answer? Look for narcissism in the candidates and find one without it. As he says, narcissism is the "most common obstacle of success for those trying to make the leap" to leading a company.

Two weeks ago, we released our latest video for The Gospel Project. In that short time, the video has been viewed more than 10,000 times online. If you haven't seen it yet, please take a few minutes to watch.

Ten Reasons for Thanksgiving on This Fourth of July

I love my country. No, I am not blind to the problems and struggles of our nation. Indeed, I have seen some of the blights of our country up close. I am a child of the deep South racism that scarred our nation for most of its history. I was also impacted by the segregationist cries of George Wallace and a bungled burglary called Watergate.

I could continue to name many more blights upon our nation, but the exercise would not be helpful. To the contrary, most reasonable persons will quickly see that the blessings of America far outweigh the weaknesses. I have taken the opportunity to name ten broad reasons for thanksgiving this Fourth of July.

1. I am thankful for our founders.

It is hard for me to imagine the sacrifices and tenacity of those who shaped our nation. Their vision for a country such as ours is something to behold. From the Constitution to the Congress of the U.S., their genius and creativity still touches our lives today.

2. I am thankful for our military.

Many of these men and women gave their lives for our nation. They have protected our borders and preserved our freedoms. To this day, our military remains a committed group of men and women who will do what it takes to defend this country,

3. I am thankful for our freedoms.

I can write this article today because I have the freedom of speech. I can go to church with my family because I have the freedom to worship. It's easy to take some of our freedoms for granted. I am thankful I live in a nation where freedom is built into our land's DNA.

4. I am thankful for family.

My immediate and extended families were shaped by our nation's families that preceded us. We are shaped by the spirit of pioneers, entrepreneurs, and committed and determined families that made this nation great. My family is the beneficiary of theses earlier families.

5. I am thankful for the right to vote.

I have the opportunity to choose my congressman, my mayor, my board of education member, and my president. My vote is as powerful as anyone else's. The right to vote is an incredible privilege; I should never take it for granted.

6. I am thankful for material blessings.

Our nation is blessed with an abundance of resources. I realize that there are people starving in some nations. Poverty is ravishing other nations. Yet I enjoy an unprecedented national material prosperity. I must not take it for granted. And I must always be generous with what I have.

7. I am thankful for politicians of integrity.

The phrase ethical politician may seem to be an oxymoron, but there are thousands of politicians of integrity in our nation. They serve at local, state, and national levels. And most serve sacrificially because they love the home God has given to them.

8. I am thankful for sacrificial men and women.

Many are in the military. Many are politicians. Some are those who came from other places to establish this country. And many more are everyday men and women who have made great sacrifices to make this nation great.

9. I am thankful for the beauty of our nation.

My wife and I have traveled to all fifty states. In every location, we are amazed at the beauty of this land. God has given us an incredible place with majestic mountains, white beaches, open plains, towering forests, and sparkling lakes.

10. I am thankful for God who gave all these things to us.

We are a unique nation. Our founding fathers did not declare that our rights come from the government; rather they declared that our rights come from God. While I shed tears at the beauty of the stars and stripes, I am so much more grateful for the scars and stripes of Jesus Christ.

I would welcome your story. Why are you thankful for this nation?

Have a great Fourth of July.

And may God bless America.

The Twelve Lessons of Fatherhood, Part Two (Lessons 7-12)

In last week's post, I covered lessons one through six. We conclude with lessons seven through twelve this week.

Lesson 7: Communicate the Blessing with Words and Touch

Perhaps this lesson could be included in lesson six. I simply want to emphasize that even if our children know we love them and that we are proud of them, they need to hear it. They need to feel with our hugs. When they are young, the physical interaction with children is critical. When they are older, we must still keep hugging them.

Lesson 8: Talk to Your Children

I love it. I absolutely love it. My sons still want to talk to me. My boys can call my cell phone at almost any time. They know that I am the president of this big company, but they know they can get in touch with me quickly. Most of the time I will answer their calls on the spot. Otherwise, I get back to them quickly. I am honored beyond measure that those boys still want to talk to me.

I think I instilled this desire early in their lives. I let them know that there was no such thing as a stupid question and that there were no subjects that were out of bounds. We really had some interesting discussions. Some of them were theological. Some of them were blunt talks about the “facts of life.” Others were about sports, girls, politics, morals, clothes, careers, hobbies, places to live, places to go, and the list goes on.

Lesson 9: Fun and Humor Is Healthy

The Rainer house was a fun place to be. I think that’s why we became a hangout on the east side of town. All three of my boys have a great sense of humor.

Our three sons like to joke with one another. They especially enjoy making fun of their old man. Because they had to endure hundreds of my sermons and speeches, they frequently would imitate my mannerisms and frequently repeated phrases. Their mother enjoyed popping paper bags behind them when they were not aware she was in the room.

Lesson 10: Admit Your Mistakes

Art and his brothers have taught me much as they have raised their dad. My natural and sinful tendency was to speak quickly and harshly when one of the boys was out of line. I blew it many times as a father. But my boys have taught me to think before I speak and to be willing to ask for forgiveness when I was wrong. They have indeed raised Dad well.

Lesson 11: Know When to Let Go, Know When to Hold

Indeed, there were not many things that I did not share with my sons. And there were not many emotions I left unchecked.

On the one hand, this transparency is good. My boys knew where I stood on almost all issues. They knew they could get clear and non-evasive answers from me. And they knew how I felt at almost all times. There was no doubt how Dad was feeling in the Rainer home.

On the other hand, I was often transparent to a fault. Kids need to be kids, and they do not need to be exposed to every feeling and concern parents have. I needed to protect them from the harsh world more than I did, instead of letting them hear almost every fear and problem with which I struggled.

Some parents never let their children see the real mom and dad. And some parents let their kids see too much. I was guilty of the latter.

Lesson 12: There Is Nothing More Important than a Child's Eternity

“Lord, please look over our sons. Keep them in Your protective and loving hands. Help us to be the type of parents that show Your love. And we pray for the salvation of our sons. We ask that they hear clearly one day the gospel message, and that they accept and follow Your Son Jesus.”

Those words, or words similar to those, were prayed by Nellie Jo and me on a regular basis. We do want the best for our sons in this life. But this life is so incredibly brief. Our most fervent prayer was for each of the boys to become a Christian so that their eternities would be secure.

God has answered our prayers. Very few dads have had the incredible privilege to do what I did. I baptized each of my sons after they became followers of Christ. Those were moments that I cherished, moments that moved me to tears.

Though I was imperfect, I tried to model Christ to my sons. I wanted them to see Him in both my words and actions. I wanted them to have the freedom to talk with me about anything, especially spiritual matters.

God answered our prayers. The most important gift a child can receive is the gift of salvation in Christ. And I thank God that He used Nellie Jo and me as His instruments in their eternities.

Adapted from Raising Dad (B&H Publishing Group, 2007)

The Death of Elitist Leadership

It is indeed an understatement, but it’s true. Leadership is changing. Some point to technological advances as the great equalizer. Others say it is the social media facet of technology that is key. Still others point to the Millennial generation and their changing expectations of leaders and life in general. Some would say that the failure of political and business leaders led to the change.

There is undoubtedly truth in all explanations, and there are probably many more explanations to the changing role of and demands on leaders. The overall thrust of the changes is that elitist leadership is dead; at the very least it is dying. The demand for greater transparency, honesty, and just plain decent behavior has never been higher.

Elitist leaders will not survive this new era. And though this new open leadership model has its challenges, the move away from elitist leadership is a positive development for our organizations and society. Look at some of the implications.

Leaders Can No Longer Assume They Are the Smartest People in the Room

Just when a leader thinks he has put in his time and efforts toward his leadership status, some young guy or gal comes along who revolutionizes our organization or our world. Humility demands that we recognize there are others smarter than we are. If not, we leaders could really be embarrassed.

Leaders Can No Longer Make Unquestioned Demands

Elitist leaders act like they are generals in the military. They bark orders, make demands, and expect no pushback. After all, what the leader says is the way it will be. No more. Every significant decision a leader makes today is scrutinized, questioned, and evaluated. There is no such thing in our world today as unquestioned leadership (unless you belong to a cult).

Leaders Can No Longer Be Protected from Criticism

Elitist leaders surround themselves with sycophants. If you are not a yes-man or a yes-woman, you are removed from the leadership circle, and perhaps from the organization. When criticism comes to the organization of the elitist leader, he or she makes certain someone else takes the blame. That era of leadership is virtually over. The technology and Internet revolution means that anyone can criticize a leader anytime. If someone desires to avoid criticism as a life goal, he or she should avoid leadership roles at all times.

Leaders Can No Longer Be Cloaked in Secrecy and Privacy

I enjoy reading biographies of leaders of the 60s and 70s, the years of my childhood and adolescent. What amazes me is how many of their indiscretions were never made public. Most of them would not have lasted a month in today’s very public scrutiny. Elitist leadership allowed for indiscretions, bad business decisions, and just weird behavior to be swept under the rug. Not so today. Leaders are under the microscope every day.

It’s Tough Leadership, But It’s the Right Leadership

Elitist leadership is easier, but it’s not good leadership. The reality is that no leaders in the years ahead will be able to function in that manner. And though there are challenges and problems with the high level of scrutiny a leader must endure today, the trend is healthy.

We are indeed moving toward more open and transparent leadership.

We should celebrate, not mourn, the death of elitist leadership.

How has the new era of leadership changed how you lead?

What They See When They Come to Your Church

In the context of serious theological discussions, it may seem trivial to write about first impressions of guests when they visit your church. But, if we could understand that a returning guest has more opportunities to hear the gospel and experience Christian love and fellowship, we might take the issue a bit more seriously.

Prior to assuming the presidency of LifeWay, I led a church consulting company. One of our first steps in the consultation was to send one or more first-time guests to the church. Those individuals would then report back to us on their experiences. Many times those we enlisted were unchurched non-Christians.

Why We Don’t See It

I am working at home today because a handyman is working on several small items around my house. I love his approach. When he first enters our home, he asks for permission to take a quick tour. Within minutes, he commented on several items that might need his attention, items that weren’t on the list I gave him. I appreciated his thoroughness, and it was good for his business as well.

The handyman did something very basic and very simple. He looked at my house through outside eyes. I am in my house everyday, so I don’t notice those things that may not be just right. The same is true for church members and church leaders. They see their church on an ongoing basis, so they don’t have the benefit of outside eyes.

What They See

After two decades of church consultation, a clear pattern emerged. These were the areas that engendered more comments and concerns from first-time guests. These areas are listed in order of frequency of response, and they deal only with physical facilities. I will address non-facility issues in next Saturday’s blog.

The women’s restrooms. Almost 100 percent of the female guests we retained addressed this issue. They noticed first and foremost the cleanliness of the restrooms. Then they noticed the convenience of getting to the restrooms. Finally, they noticed the capacity of the restrooms. Did they have to wait in line? The preschool and nursery area. This area was a focus of near unanimity of young families. Is the area secure? Is it clean? How do I know someone else won’t pick up my child? Do the workers appear concerned and qualified? Parking. Guests often commented on the difficulty or ease of finding a parking spot. Was there a covered drop off if the weather was bad? Were there guest parking spots? Were there reserved places for young mothers and expectant mothers? Were there sufficient handicapped parking places? Signage and information. Last week my wife and I were in mall we had never visited. The first thing we did was go to a sign that had all the stores and their locations on it. Even small churches can be intimidating to first-time guests. Do you have adequate signage throughout the facilities? Is there an obvious information booth or table? Members know where to go; guests don’t. Worship seating. First time guests desire to find a place to sit as quickly as possible. They feel awkward otherwise. Is your worship center more than 80 percent full? If so, the guests perceive it is completely full. Are your members trained to move to the middle of pews or seat rows so guests don’t have to climb over them? Are their ushers or greeters available to lead guests to seats?

It Is Important

When a guest has a good experience, he or she is more likely to return. When they return they are more likely to hear about and experience the love of Christ.

When I was a pastor of a church with 70 in worship attendance, we decided to do something about our deplorable restrooms. We had a workday and almost half the church showed up. People donated materials, labor, and even toilets. At the end of the day, we had some of the nicest and cleanest restrooms in town.

I don’t know how closely it’s related, but our attendance bumped up to 90 immediately and never went back in my tenure. Maybe it was the church working together. Maybe it was the community observing the unity of the church. Or maybe we just had clean restrooms.

It is that important.

What issues are important to guests in your church? What changes has your church made? What changes should your church make?

Pastor to Pastor is the Saturday blog series at ThomRainer.com. Pastors and staff, if we can help in any way, contact Steve Drake, our director of pastoral relations, at Steve.Drake@LifeWay.com . We also welcome contacts from laypersons in churches asking questions about pastors, churches, or the pastor search process.

Friday is for Freebies: Study Bibles

My giveaway this Friday is another pair of study Bibles.

First is the newest study Bible from B&H, the Mission.of God Study Bible. Edited by Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation, the Mission of God Study Bible encourages followers of Jesus Christ to see their everyday life from God's perspective and have His heart for people. It's a reminder that we live around people in desperate need of redemption and reconciliation with God, which can only be found in Jesus. The mission of God has never been just for specialists; it is for all believers to live out through their daily lives and by sharing the good news of what God has done through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus.

The second is the Life Essentials Study Bible. This full HCSB translation is complemented by Gene Getz's extensive study notes guiding readers to put 1,500 life principles within Scripture into daily action. Personalized online video lessons for each principle--250 hours of free coaching led by Getz--is also made available.

To be eligible to win, tell us who your favorite living author is.

The deadline to enter is midnight CST this Saturday. We will draw one winner from the entries on Monday morning.

Notable Voices (June 28, 2012)

The Unfortunate Link Between Cultural Castigation and Pitiful Preaching -- Ed Stetzer

With the recent careless comments by pastors on the subject of homosexuality which have have gone viral, sermons and those who preach them are under greater scrutiny than ever before. Ed has penned an essay on the dangers of preaching into Scripture and the necessity of preaching from Scripture.

31 Petitions to the Lord on the Occasion of My 31st Birthday -- Trevin Wax

Trevin posts a lists of prayers for his personal spiritual growth each year. No matter your age, this list is a great list to put into practice in your daily walk with the Lord.

Serving Communion to Former Cannibals -- Tony Merida

This is a fascinating story of missionary John G. Paton's ministry to a former cannibal tribe in Aniwa. Paton's story is a testament to the greatness of the grace of God and His ability to save.

Pastoral Advice from a Professional Wrestler -- Jay Sanders

Former WWE entertainer, and current evangelist, Nikita Koloff (Neslon Scott Simpson) shares a key truth for those in ministry-- "Jesus already died for the church. You don't have to." Pastors, surround yourself with a strong team; don't burn the candle at both ends. Make sure your schedule tells your family they are more important than your job.

Share this with Your CEO -- Harvard Business Review

This post is related to the last one in that it, too, deals with the energy it takes to be a leader. It's a reminder that we are not only to care for our spiritual health, but our physical health as well.

Kids in the Family of God -- Ben Connelly

Kids have a remarkable ability to cross generations while serving. While some may be closed off to adults, kids seem to break barriers many adults would never begin to crack. That's one reason why I appreciate Ben's article on how kids can get involved in kingdom ministry.

What Is a Grandmother?

I came across this brief essay in a 20-year-old file. I wish I could give it proper attribution, but the old piece of paper is all I have. I appreciate the words more today than ever, now that I am the granddad of six grandchildren.

What Is a Grandmother?

By a Third Grader

A grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own. She likes other people’s little boys and girls. A grandfather is a man grandmother. He goes for walks with the boys, and they talk about fishing, football, and stuff like that.

Grandmothers don’t have anything to do except to be there. They’re old so they shouldn’t play hard or run. It is enough if they drive us to the store where the pretend horse is, and have lots of change ready. Or, if they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars. They never say “hurry up.”

Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth and gums off.

Grandmothers don’t have to be smart, only answer questions like, “Why isn’t God married?” and “How come dogs chase cats?”

Grandmothers don’t talk baby talk like other visitors do, because it’s hard to understand. When they read to us, they don’t skip or mind if it’s the same story over again.

Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you’re not allowed to watch much television, because they are the only grown-ups who have time.

The Twelve Lessons of Fatherhood, Part One (Lessons 1-6)

I once did an interview for an online publication, and one of the questions was: “Who has been the greatest leadership influence in your life?” Without hesitation, I wrote: “My three sons: Sam, Art, and Jess.”

Fatherhood has been an educational journey that no school could provide. I have learned so much. And even to this day, I listen to my sons. They may think that I am offering them words of wisdom, but I am learning from them as well.

I do not see myself as the great expert on fatherhood. I hope I have been transparent and honest in my self-assessment, especially with the weaknesses and faults that I have.

I also realize that the far superior parent in our family is my wife, Nellie Jo. I have never seen such sacrificial and unconditional love flow from one human to another. She is the true instrument of God who raised our three sons so well.

But this is a post about fatherhood. At the end of the day, I have several lessons that I have learned about the great challenge of being a dad. Thank you for allowing this fellow struggler the opportunity to share these lessons.

Lesson 1: Children Are Precious Gifts From God

If we parents ever fully recognize the incredible gift we have been given in our children, our attitude about them will be one of unceasing praise. I realize that not every couple has been given children. And I realize that I do not deserve my sons any more than husbands and wives who have not been blessed with children. They are gifts of grace. Undeserved and unmerited.

Have you ever assessed a situation and realized how completely blessed you are? That is how I feel about my boys. One of the reasons that I have not failed completely as a father is that my sons know how much I treasure them. They have a confidence and assurance that they are wanted. They know that I see them as precious gifts from God. They know that I feel like I am the most blessed man in the world to have them as my sons.

On those occasions where I have been weary and irritable, I often remind myself of this gift. Such thinking really puts minor issues in perspective. Children are gifts. Never, ever forget that truth.

Lesson 2: We Must Love Our Children Unconditionally, and They Must Know It

A child who grows up with unconditional love is more secure and more joyous. He or she does not have to earn the love of a parent. It is there no matter what.

The analogy of the heavenly Father’s love for us through Christ is a fit comparison. We did not earn His love. We did not merit His love. But we can be secure in His love. The apostle Paul said it clearly in Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.” Paul spoke of the security of Christ’s love in Romans 8:38–39: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

Our children can take a lot from this world if they know that Mom and Dad are there for them no matter what. The love of Christ is the greatest security. And the unconditional love of a parent is a child’s greatest earthly security.

Lesson 3: Love Your Children's Mother

I am not a perfect father. Not close. And I am not a perfect husband. Far from it. But do you know what Art, Sam, and Jess know? Despite my imperfections as a husband, despite my stupid anger, despite my self-centeredness, I love their mother. I am with her until death do us part. My sons can live in the assurance and the confidence that, not only do I love them, I love and adore my wife, their mother.

Nellie Jo and I are blessed with three daughters. God gave Art a wife named Sarah, Sam a wife named Erin, and Jess a wife named Rachel. These three young ladies are the answers to our prayers. They are beautiful physically but, more importantly, they are beautiful spiritually. And they love our sons. And we love them for that. I pray that my boys will show their children what it is like to love and adore their mothers.

Lesson 4: Time Can Never Be Recaptured

Art often tells a story of his baseball team when he was seven years old. One day I was coaching at third base when Art hit the ball into the infield. Seeing that he was a certain out at first base, he did not run all the way to the base, a cardinal sin in baseball. The coach gave him several sentences of reprimand, which irked me. I was about to say something to the coach when Art came running across the field, holding back tears. He looked at me with hurt all over his face and said, “Daddy, that coach hurt my feelings.”

I swept my son into my arms. He already knew that he had made a baseball mistake, so I did not dwell on that issue. After a few minutes, Art was fine, having fun again with his teammates.

Why did I tell that story? I simply remember how good I felt when I held my son. And I remember how great it was to be able to soothe hurt feelings with a hug and a few sentences. I also remember how much fun I had coaching the team with both Sam and Art on it.

That was yesterday . . . or so it seems. Actually it was nearly twenty years ago. Where has the time gone? The time that we have our children at home is so incredibly brief. Make the most of it. Enjoy each year of their lives. Celebrate each moment. It will be over before you know it.

Lesson 5: Discipline Is a Sign of Love

Neither Nellie Jo nor I enjoyed disciplining our sons, but we did so anyway. To do less was to tell our boys that we didn’t care what they did, that we had no boundaries. They did not like the discipline when they were children, but now they tell us how much they appreciate it.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that discipline is a sign of love, and he points to God’s love as a disciplining love in Hebrews 12:5–11:

My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly, or faint when you are reproved by Him; for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives. Endure it as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

There were times when I was tempted to avoid the hassle and pain of disciplining Art, Jess, and Sam. I am glad that I avoided that temptation.

Lesson 6: Encouragement Builds Up a Child

Sam was driving his truck one day, and I was in the passenger seat. “Dad, what one piece of advice would you give me on being a father?” Now that question really hit me for a couple reasons. First, my son was really asking for my advice. Secondly, I love this adult-son age where they really listen to me.

I can’t say that I thought through the answer with any great depth, but the answer that came most quickly to my mind was: “Encourage your kids. Let them know how proud you are of them. Many children go through their entire lives seeking and not getting their parents’ approval.”

Sam responded, “Yeah, Dad, that’s what you have done with Art, Jess, and me. And it has worked!”

The blessing. That’s what a parent’s approval is. And for whatever reasons, fathers seem to withhold such encouragement and approval more than mothers do. I thank God that I learned the lesson of the blessing.

Adapted from Raising Dad (B&H Publishing Group, 2007)

Seven Characteristics of Advancing Leaders

I am a leader watcher.

Indeed I have observed and learned from leaders as far back as my memory takes me. At this phase of my life in my late fifties, I continue to enjoy watching and learning from leaders. My son, Jess Rainer, and I did a study and book on the Millennials. Our research included leadership issues related to this young-adult generation.

But my observations are not limited to just this generation. To the contrary, my leadership research spans multiple generations in multiple vocations. I am particularly fascinated to watch those persons who are obviously on the move, who seemed to be both present and future leaders. Recently, I made an attempt to summarize seven general characteristics of these leaders who are advancing in their organizations and in life in general. Here are the seven traits I noted, none of which should be a surprise:

Strategic. Advancing leaders not only do what they are assigned, they are always thinking ahead. They take on responsibilities well beyond what their supervisors expect of them. While they do excel at tackling today’s work, they are always thinking about what needs to be done for the future betterment of the organization. Joyful. The leadership literature twenty years and older rarely mentioned joy as a characteristic of advancing leaders. That is not the case anymore. These leaders have devoted followers because the leader himself or herself has a joy that is contagious. As a corollary, advancing leaders tend to have fun with their work. Articulate. These leaders have good communication skills, both verbal and written. If they are not particularly adept at communicating, they make their improvement a high priority in their leadership development. Advancing leaders speak well and write well. Humble. Again, the leadership literature of just a couple of decades ago rarely spoke of humility as a positive trait. To the contrary, some of the older publications implied that humility could be perceived as a weakness. Confidence moving toward arrogance was not uncommon among the leaders of the past. Today, advancing leaders are more likely than not to have a humble disposition. Confident humility actually engenders followship. Hard working. This trait has not changed over the years. Leadership is earned with hard work. Perhaps more today than the past, leadership is not handed to entitled persons. Advancing leaders are paying their dues today. Grateful. If you want to see a stark contrast between an advancing leader and someone who is not, listen to their conversations. Advancing leaders are always grateful for opportunities; they rarely have a sense of entitlement. Others are more likely to complain about the organization, co-workers, the government, the leaders in the organization, and others. It’s never their fault; someone else is to blame. To the contrary, advancing leaders take responsibility and express gratitude regularly. Innovative. Advancing leaders are creative and innovative. They have the ability to think outside the box. When they hit a roadblock, they just seem to find a way to move around it. Many of the great ideas of the future are being formulated in the minds of these leaders today.

It is indeed fun to watch these leaders as they advance in organizations and society. They are changing the world for the better in the future. Many of them are changing the world for the better today.

What characteristics have you noticed in other leaders which could be added to this list?