Next Generation Leader

by Andy Stanley

honesty must be a trait that characterizes you in all your roles.

We are always one decision, one word, one reaction away from damaging what has taken years to develop.

But still this truth remains: There is never a reason to violate the principles of God in order to maintain the blessing of God.

The opportunity will take you by surprise. In the heat of the moment you will be unaware of all that is at stake.

You will simply make your choice and face the consequences. It will be a trial by fire.

The fear of the unknown is eventually replaced by a brand of freedom reserved only for those who are willing to live with the consequences of uncompromising virtue.

You will be free from the threats of those who claim to have the power to control the outcome of your life.

In the moment of decision you will gain insight into who you are and more importantly, whose you are.

The truth is that talented, charismatic, visionary people will almost always have a following. Whether they are worth following is a different question, predicated upon a different set of values.

But if numbers tell the whole story, we would have to assume that God removed His blessing from Jesus toward the end of His ministry!

In the end there were only a handful of faithful men and women who dared to be associated with Him.

To leave a legacy that goes beyond accomplishment alone, a leader must devote himself to matters of the heart.

owning the gift and operating the gift responsibly are two different things.

One requires nothing on your part. The other requires a lifetime of learning. The gift

develop the maturity to handle it responsibly requires initiative and discipline.

Your eventual success will introduce you to new temptations, new options, and new opportunities. Your response to these depends entirely upon the condition of your heart.

Your gifts will open doors. Your character will determine what you do once those doors have opened.

No doubt you have a mission statement and a set of values to support it.

In time, those elements, combined with your God-given abilities, will take you far. People will follow.

But to ignore the condition of your soul is the equivalent of planning to fail.

You’re either ready or you’re not. It is the law of the harvest at work.

In the moment of testing you will reap what you have sown.

I hope that as an emerging next generation leader it is becoming clearer to you what you want to accomplish, what you want to do.

question is: Have you determined what you want to become?

The outer man will reflect th...

It wasn’t their poor leadership decisions that had sidelined them. It was their poor personal decisions that had taken them out.

The inner man hadn’t kept pace with the outer man.

ultimately, success is defined in terms of who you are and how you treat the people around you.

Letting others in on who you want to be reinforces the perimeter you are staking out around your behavior.

It was an invitation for evaluation.

“For those who know me best to love and respect me most.”

It is hard to beat that. Every time I’m with him I think ab...

here’s a guy who is being successful where it matters most. And he has put himself on display.

he later acknowledged, had begun for him in high school.

An empire built on trust came tumbling down, and the Christian community received another black eye.

What small thing in my life right now has the potential to grow into a big thing?

Your character is reflected in every decision you make and every relationship you establish.

you have been blessed with the ability to command the attention and influence the direction of others.

You must discover and play to your strengths and delegate your weaknesses. You’ve got to be courageous, and you’ve got to be clear in the midst of uncertainty. You need to find a leadership coach. And along the way it is absolutely essential that you maintain your character.

If you embrace and internalize these five essentials, you will have the foundation you need to leverage the opportunities God brings your way.

If you have ever driven on ice, you know that horsepower is worthless without traction.

But most importantly, they are your responsibility.

You can give to them what others have given to you. Opportunity. Information. Encouragement. Hope.