Developing people is one of the core ambitions of 1Glories. When I started the blog, it was about the only directive I knew for sure. And developing people goes well beyond the topic of “leadership.” And there is no one surefire approach that will work for everyone. That’s because we all exist on different spectrum’s and are at different points on that spectrum.
For instance, in the course of developing people, we may find that some are in need of simple life skills. Others need to develop courage and tact to move their careers to a higher level. Obviously, that is just a couple examples. There are so many more. And there is no one-size-fits-all. It’s much more complex.
If asked to boil it down to a simple statement based upon what I’ve studied and discerned, it is something like this:
Developing people takes investing time, building relationships, understanding, and responding with wisdom. Here are seven links/posts speaking to it.
Developing People into Leaders
What Should Be The Legacy of a Successful Leader? (John Maxwell): As Maxwell points out, our legacies as leaders are tied to the leaders we develop. I’ve always felt this way as a parent as well. We parents can take the responsibility of developing our children seriously. If we do, it makes meeting the command to “honor they mother and father” (Exodus 20:12) is second nature.
Surefire Ways to Fail in Developing Leaders (Tony Morgan): Too many churches ignore the provision of pathways to leadership within their churches. Because it’s important at so many levels, Morgan shares how to help leaders grow from leading tens (of people) to thousands. It begins with investing in developing their core competencies.
Developing People Through Mentoring
Tim Tebow Should Mentor Justin Bieber (Ron Edmondson): It’s an older post (2012), but Tim Tebow continues to do good works both on and off the field. It also reminds us that, no matter how high we rise in our path, we can always use wise mentorship.
Radical Mentorship For Men That Transforms Their Leadership And Families (Regi Campbell via Carey Neiuwhof): [Podcast] Jesus mentored twelve men. Their subsequent mentoring led to the radical spread of Christianity. Of course, he did it God’s way, which is much more than training… it’s teaching them to be something (as opposed to how to do something). Along the way, this sort of mentoring provides context and meaning to scripture.
Developing People through Personal Influence and Experiences
One Simple Trick to Bring Out the Best in People (Michael Hyatt): Hyatt uses wisdom of Paul shared in Thessalonians to show how making positive expectations, and displaying your confidence in them, can create a willingness of others wanting to do their absolute best. He concludes it quite well by saying, “Don’t look for flaws in people. Look for strengths that you can help build up.”
The Best Leaders are Great Coaches (Lolly Daskal): Comparing leaders to coaches, Daskal says that the best leaders “give those around them permission to succeed and know how to help them reach their potential.” The communicate with wisdom, challenge and raise the bar. They are available, create a compelling vision, and so much more.
How to Make Things Right When You Hurt Someone (Margaret Ashmore at Bible Study Tools): Drawing on Colossians, Matthew, James, and several other examples in scripture, Ashmore shows that, in response to hurt, we can either retreat to viewing from a perspective of our personal kingdoms or a perspective of living in God’s kingdom under his protection.