Lightning Strike Deaths
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states in this article that lightning killed an average of 28 U.S. citizens annually from 2006 through 2021. What is also interesting is University of Florida researcher Martin Uman told Sports Illustrated in its July 18, 2011 edition that many of these deaths did not result from direct hits. He pointed out more than half of those who do receive direct hits lived to tell about the experience.
Ground Shock Deaths
Surprisingly, many are killed by ground shocks. Ground shocks are the result of lightning hitting the ground creating electricity which then runs over and through the earth. Uman says, “Energy (then) flashes over the skin. Whether you live or not depends on whether it enters the body, and how much electricity goes through the heart – if it stops the heart.”
As leaders, we can often survive direct hits to our influence. It is the ground shocks which can destroy our leadership. To help prevent this, keep your ear to the ground.
5 Leadership Killers
As you keep your ear to the ground and listen to your people, the following are five things you should be constantly monitoring:
- Lack of Unified Leadership – Disunity, or fragmented leadership, can destroy a leader’s influence. The results are competing voices and agendas. Factions are formed and certain individuals will then attempt to fill the leadership vacuum.
- Lack of Vision – Without vision, your people and teams walk around aimlessly. Oftentimes, people will then line up behind another charismatic leader or whatever vision appears the most compelling.
- Lack of Urgency – Because there is a lack of vision, there is a corresponding lack of urgency. Nothing exists worth sacrificing or investing your life in. Movement and advancement stops.
- Lack of Trust – This results from continual missed expectations or broken promises. You must combat this by getting a series of small wins under your belt. Declare victory anywhere you can and start rebuilding trust.
- Lack of Financial Resources – Proverbs 29:18 famously says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (KJV) John Maxwells adds that where there are no resources, the vision perishes. Ministry, organizational progress, solutions to our greatest problems, and life change costs money. Financial resources fuel your future.
Conclusion
Leaders, if you have a lack of unified leadership, vision, urgency, trust, and financial resources, you are about to get hit with a ground shock.
Take the direct hit instead and address your issues today. You can survive a direct hit. It may be what is needed to save your leadership.
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