The Heart of Leadership

Mission, Target Audience, Strategic Plan ... all are connected in the world of leadership. Leaders know this - it is not a new thought.

However, as I was meditating on John 3;16-17 this week I saw these three come together in the activity of God. Take a look...

John 3:16-17 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Target Audience -- the world, people, the "whoever" -- God has a target audience. He had people in mind. Leaders must understand who is the target audience. With whom are you trying to connect. Who is the organization trying to reach.

Mission -- "save the world" -- Two very important points to consider...

1. The mission is shaped by the needs of the target audience. The world was perishing and needed to be saved. This is often overlooked by leadership and organizations. Leaders make the mistake at times of giving the target audience what they don't need rather than what they need. To be a great leader we must understand the needs of the target audience.

2. The mission is expressed through a relationship. God sent his one and only Son. Through him are we saved. Through a relationship is the mission accomplished. This, too, can be a challenge for organizations and leaders. Our work is done through relationships. If we "lord it over" the people we're trying to serve we will not be effective leaders and the mission will not truly be accomplished.

Strategic Plan -- "send his one and only Son" -- There was both a positive and a negative component to the strategic plan. Positive -- save the world. Negative -- don't condemn the world. In leadership there are positive/proactive steps we take and there are negative issues we avoid. Good leadership understands this.

Notice a very important truth: It all started with the heart of God toward the target audience. It all starts with the heart of a leader toward the target audience. Is it truly our desire to serve? This is the beginning point of all great leadership. Service to others is the heart of all great leadership.