8 Characteristics Of Leadership Wisdom

Are you a person of wisdom?  All leaders like to think they have a measure of wisdom.  Certainly, if they have reached a certain level of position and/or influence, they must have at least some wisdom, right?  Well, the answer is “not necessarily”.

Today at Fellowship Bible Church, Senior Pastor Crawford Lorrits gave an incredible message on true wisdom.  I wanted to pass his thoughts along to you.

First let’s take a look at some facts about wisdom.

1. Wisdom is not knowledge.
2. Wisdom is not fast food.  It must be marinated over time.
3. Wisdom cannot be separated from character.
4. Wisdom does not damage relationships but rather brings people together.
5. Wisdom comes with brokenness.
6. We must not make the mistake of confusing talent and giftedness with wisdom.

It is important to unpack Point #6, the relationship between talent and giftedness with wisdom.  The following are four principles about that relationship:

1. What God has for you, no one can take from you.  Therefore, true wisdom says that you don’t need to compete or compare yourselves with others.
2. Don’t lead with your rights but respond to what is right.  Leaders, be aware, for you to achieve wisdom you must have at times had your rights violated.
3. Know your giftedness, abilities, and experience but lead from a platform of brokenness and godliness.
4. And finally, don’t ever tell God how to use you.  Godly wisdom is about bringing Him glory and not ourselves.

With Godly wisdom as our foundational base for implementing leadership, the following are the 8 Characteristics of true Godly Wisdom:

1. Pure – This wisdom is untarnished and holy.
2. Peaceable – It resolves conflicts and strives for unity.
3. Gentle – It is like velvet steel.  It is strong but considerate and empathetic.  Wisdom is not looking for issues.
4. Open To Reason – It is not threatened.  It is secure and therefore willing to yield.  It is objective and not leveraging a closed agenda.
5. Mercy – It is quick to extend forgiveness.
6. Good Fruits – It models proper behavior and does what is right regardless of whose agenda it is.
7. Impartial – It has a passion for what is right.
8. Sincere – There are no hidden agendas or motives.  It is not disingenuous.

That type of leadership is not exactly “My way or the highway” is it?  When these 8 characteristics are implemented you create an environment of peace.  In this environment, people do not use people to get their way. 

Knowledge + Wisdom = Character.  And character comes from good decisions made over an extended period of time.

So the questions are – Are you that type of leader?  Would your team say that you have wisdom?  To make your voice heard as a leader, click The Leadership Tribe link.