5 Things That Can Destroy A Person’s Leadership

The National Weather Service estimates that lightning kills an average of 55 U.S. citizens annually.  What is interesting is that the University of Florida researcher Martin Uman tells Sports Illustrated in its July 18th edition that many of these deaths do not result from direct hits.  It should be noted more than half of those who do receive direct hits live to tell about the experience.  

Many are killed by ground shocks.  Ground shocks is when electricity results from lightning hitting the ground 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.”

Muhammad Ali once said, “It’s not the hardest hit that knocks you out.  It’s the one you don’t see coming.”  We can often survive direct hits.  It’s the ground shocks that can destroy our ministries and leadership influence.  So keep your ear to the ground.

As you are keeping your ear to the ground and listening to your people, the following are five things you should be aware of:

• Lack of Unified Leadership – Disunity, or fragmented leadership, can destroy a leader’s influence.  The result is competing voices and agendas.  Factions are formed and certain individuals often attempt to fill the leadership vacuum. 
• Lack of Vision – Vision produces a visual need.  Without vision, your people and teams walk around aimlessly.  Often people will line up under a charismatic leader and whatever vision appears the most compelling.
• Lack of Urgency – Because there is a lack of vision, there is a lack of urgency to fulfill it.  Nothing exists that is 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 beginning to get a series of small wins under your belt.  Declare victory anywhere you can.
• Lack of Financial Resources - Ministry and organizational advancement costs money.  Life change costs money.  Financial resources fuel your future.

Pastors and leaders, if you have a lack of unified leaders, lack of vision, lack of  urgency, lack of trust, and lack of resources, you are about to get hit with a ground shock. 

Take a direct hit instead and address the issue today.  You can survive a direct hit.  It may be what it needed to save your leadership.

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