Great Leaders Faced With Ubiquitous Resistance

Leadership is about flexibility and change, because everything in life changes. In fact, some of the greatest leaders in the world were successful because of their ability to move so swiftly and seamlessly in and out of change. But what is a leader to do when faced with ubiquitous resistance? A true leader is ready for such a person to rise up. Resistors do not even realize it, but resistance to change manifests itself in many ways, from complete fall away and retreating to petty sabotage, public displays of humility, to outright rebellions. The best strategy for leaders of change and leaders who thrive on change and diversity in situations is to understand the predictable sources of resistance in each situation and then strategize around them. A great leader will rejoice inside when instantly they have a new creative great idea to strategize up and over, around, down and under or around people who resist change and win! The true leader becomes magnified in the eyes on others while the resistor only becomes more resistant.

One of my favorite quotes of all times is this: “Of course there is no formula for success except, perhaps, an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.” ~Arthur Rubinstein

Part of the real beauty and excitement of life is that it’s unpredictable. Every surprise situations give us a new opportunity to show our good stuff. Being involved in change shows the world what we are really made of.  Nothing is permanent, everything changes; and of course, a lot of things can happen unexpectedly, at a moment's notice that will transform who you are and have an impact on your life. The problem is that we need to cultivate the ability to truly accept whatever comes and embrace it.

When you are a true respected leader in the eyes of all you work with a resistor will angrily resist your boundaries. Now you kick leadership into gear and take charge. When you establish a new boundary with someone they will get angry.   People who get angry at others for setting boundaries have a character problem. Self-centered, they think the world exists for them and their comfort.  So when faced with a person like this keep a loving stance while “speaking the truth in love.” When we get caught up in the “eye for eye” mentality of the law, or the “returning evil for evil” mentality of the world, we will be in bondage. If we have boundaries, we will be separate enough to love. A true loving leader will get louder in love and get bolder in setting boundaries and take back control. Let LOVE be the gauge for your leadership skills.

In Bible college I studied a lot from The Word of God and leadership. Following Bible college true leadership lessons were learned in servant hood as a minister and now serving full time as a Chaplain. I believe there’s no better teacher on leadership than Jesus. I love studying the life of Abraham. Abraham: Leaders embrace the unknown

God approaches Abraham in Genesis 12 and tells him to “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.” In other words, Abraham is instructed to leave his comfort zone and march onward into uncertainty. As business leaders, that’s a hot topic: managing risk and uncertainty. Great leaders embrace that uncertainty, because they know the truth: the promised land awaits them on the other side.
ARE YOU A RESISTOR OF A GODLY LEADER?

©Shelley Costello all rights reserved (VIP Christain Leadership Training Series)