What Leadership Looks Like !

I am not an expert in leadership and I don’t have it down pat but I know what it doesn’t look like! I can say that I have been a leader as a mother, in my church as a children’s minister, as a director for a non-profit, as an apartment manager and currently as a leader of a small group of teens. Also, I am currently leading in several online business with a team of 30+ members. I want to share some thoughts I have seen to be true leadership and what it looks like to me. A few months ago, I watched one of the best Super Bowl games I have ever seen . It was such a close scoring game! Tom Brady led his team, the Patriots, against a formidable opponent the New York Giants. I really did think the Patriots would score 10+ against the Giants. Alas, I was wrong. Tom never gave up. He led his team in excellence even to the final seconds of the game! Even when his receivers dropped 2 passes Tom kept pushing his team to win even to the final “Hail Mary” pass at the end with hope to all hopes that the receivers would make the catch like they usually do. Tom showed great strength in leadership in expecting his teammates to seize that moment and win the game. It takes courage, empowerment, skill and determination to get a touch down in less than a minute. As we all know that didn’t happen but everybody was hoping and expecting to see that great moment. That’s huge leadership even if it doesn’t go the way you want it… expecting a miracle at that moment and seeing an event that just blows your mind.

Another example of amazing leadership is my pastor Perry Noble who leads Newspring Church in Anderson SC. Our church has grown to over 26,000 in attendance on multiple campuses across the state in less than 12 years. Grant you this is a God thing but God is using a funny, humble, down to earth, southern man, from humble upbringing, with lots of baggage like all of us to lead one of the biggest churches in the south! He weekly brings to the owners/members and visitors current, relevant, and amazing words that bring the people to a better understanding how God through His son wants a relationship with all mankind… not a religion with rules and regs but a loving relationship that reciprocates to God and each other. Perry is rapidly becoming a “Leader of Leaders”. He leads a huge staff of Pastors and support staff across the state. He speaks at leadership conferences all over the world. He is currently writing a book and actively mentors other pastors through his leadership network. This is an excerpt from his blog (see link for more http://t.co/TIY3i9pf ) as follows: ” The goal of a leader isn’t to keep people happy but to keep people moving, which often times makes them not happy! The goal of a leader isn’t to get something out of people but rather to invest in them!The goal of a leader isn’t to DO all of the work, but to DELEGATE the work to the right people who can do it better than them anyway. The goal of a leader isn’t to merely identify problems but rather to initiate the solution to the problems. The goal of a leader isn’t to declare what he is against but rather define what he is for. The goal of a leader isn’t to fight but to figure out how to learn from those who have different opinions… and are actually willing to sit down and in love, talk about the issues. The goal of a leader isn’t to be perfect but rather to give his best effort, knowing that he falls incredibly short unless God is involved. The goal of a leader isn’t to model perfection but rather to admit weaknesses, mistakes and shortcomings. The goal of a leader isn’t to solve every problem but rather to seek the counsel of those who know how to fix the problem. The goal of a leader isn’t to tear down but rather to build up. The goal of a leader isn’t to avoid tough conversations and situations but rather to take them head on with both conviction and compassion!The goal of a leader isn’t to wish for more time but rather to use his time wisely. The goal of a leader isn’t to make excuses but rather to make progress.The goal of a leader isn’t to get bitter but to get better when faced with an “opportunity for improvement.” The goal of a leader isn’t to be envious but rather to be a student of all that God is blessing. The goal of a leader isn’t to be secluded but rather to surround himself with the right time.The goal of a leader isn’t to be original but rather to understand that there really is nothing new under the sun! The goal of a leader isn’t to restrain the people he works with but rather to figure out how to UNLEASH them! Just a few goals I am working on personally!” Perry Noble

In conclusion, I can follow great leaders like these and so many more through out history, even my deceased dad, but I also want my life to live out and honor them as a leader that can hold my head up and with all good conscience leading others to be better than they ever could dream to be. I heard somewhere that a leader is someone who believes in you and gets you to believe in yourself! May my and your leadership look like that and may we leave worthy footprints for those to follow.

Cindy Martini, Network Marketer & Distributor for Nature’s Pearl and One24 onlynaturespearl@gmail.com 864-369-9274