Here is the second post in a 7 part series on things leaders should not do…This is one topic that I am passionate about, but thankfully I haven’t had much experience in leadership with people who took me for granted. I have been blessed to have served under some of the finest leaders and people on this planet and I pray that myself, as a leader, would never be accused of taking people who served with me for granted.
One persons world view might say life looks like this, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. In whatever circumstance you find yourself are you helping or hurting??? I would say that unless you are actively trying to find a solution, you are part of the problem… doing nothing is part of the problem…Apathy is no excuse. In saying that, I believe that there are two attitudes you can have in dealing with leaders. There are the leaders who have an attitude of taking people for granted, and there are leaders with and attitude of appreciation.
I like people…for the most part….we all have those people who get under our skin or we don’t really get on with, but no matter who it is I want to make sure that I appreciate people. People are our most valuable resource and we need to treat them as so. An attitude of appreciation is so much more than saying “thank you” to people, but that helps. It’s more than having a “volunteer appreciation day”, but that could be cool. An attitude of appreciation is day in and day out cherishing the sacrifice people are making to help build the kingdom. When you have that mindset it will ooze out of you. The way you talk to people, the ora you give off, your accessibility…these things show your appreciation.
My goal is to have people serving with me for years and year and years, and I pray that I always value and appreciate people the way I have been valued and appreciated. It’s so much more than words…it’s a lifestyle…Taking people for granted is unattractive and it won’t get you anywhere…except maybe backwards….
MV
Just awesome, what a lesson that God taught you. Sometimes not only as leaders but simply as Christians we judge people and we doubt about their gifts and talents, we forgot that they are also God’s children, and He also gave them His grace and mercy!! God bless you!
Elizabeth Rodriguez
February 27th, 2011