The First Of Eight!

In yesterday's post I eluded to the eight F's, and promised to explain them at a later time. So with that in mind I'll explain what the eight F's bring to the table. The eight F's represent a guideline of priorities, so the order is up to the individual, but the first one is on top of my priority list, and for good reason!

FAITH
This is the cornerstone of leadership. Just as you wouldn't build a skyscraper on a soft sandy foundation, you'll never achieve any height in leadership without a foundation of faith. When your grounded in a sense of principles, supplied by a moral compass, people can believe in you. They can buy into your vision, and take stock in the hope you present to them. Because if you can't offer people hope, why, oh why, would they follow you?

A great example of this is found in the Bible...imagine that! Ezekiel the prophet tells us the Spirit of the Lord brought him into a valley. A Valley of bones, and he was asked. "Son of man can these bones live?" And Ezekiel answered,"O Lord God you know." Again He said to me," Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold I will cause breath, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you and cover you in skin and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord."-Ezekiel 37:1-6

Ezekiel does as he was told and he tells us there was a great noise and the bones came together. And as he watched skin was formed, but there was no spirit in them. So the Lord told Ezekiel..."

"Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy son of man, and say to the spirit., "Thus say the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breath upon these slain, that they may live." So he did as he was told and they stood on their feet and lived and they said. "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost."-Ezekiel 37: 7-11

Leadership is not only influence of others, it's the presence of hope. If we do not offer hope, aren't their bones dried up? When you lead people follow in hope that you'll bring them to a better place, otherwise what's the point of following you? They might as well wander aimlessly just as they were before they found you. By definition faith is hope, so to be an effective leader, make your true north....faith!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill