What's The Problem?
I read once that a Leader’s first job is the address the problems - make everyone aware of Where we are going - what might stop us from getting there. The key to facing your “Reality” is to be observant and honest. If you avoid the problems in front of you and you are the leader, your potential impact stops dead right there. Your leadership stops in its tracks. If you’re a leader, your team looks to you to address the issue, not ignore it. When Jesus faced obstacles like the religious leaders who set out to trap Him in His own words and even kill Him, Jesus would remain unwavering in His mission. He told them like it was, He addressed their hypocrisy. Then, He continued in His mission to preach the Good News, comfort the afflicted and equip the leaders the Father gave Him. He wasn’t afraid of the response to the truth.
When you make a decision for your team, it’s possible that some won’t agree. They’ll have a decision to make. After you hear them out and discuss their ideas or concerns, they’ll still need to come into alignment with your decision if it happens to be something they were against, so the team can move forward in unity. If they don’t understand why you decided what you did, do your best to help them understand your motives and the full scope of the decision. Take your time and help them see the big picture and why this decision matters in moving the ball down the field.
Jesus didn’t perceive these obstacles from the Pharisees or even occasional backlash from his own disciples as barriers that would stop Him from going to the cross or healing the sick and preaching the truth. He was faithful to continue, all the way to the cross. He confronted the religious elite who were judgmental, offended and cynical. He exposed their hearts especially when He preached that the Kingdom was for everyone and also when He empowered and sent out “tax collectors” and “sinners” as His recruits! Jesus was observant of the obstacles; He faced them and endured to the end. Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the firstborn of many and that He is our example of what it means to lay down our lives and pick up our cross, knowing that God will bring resurrection. Jesus had endurance! He faced the painful reality that the disciples whom He’d befriended and mentored will betray Him. He didn’t live in denial, and He certainly didn’t write them off. He endured in His mission.
If you’re a leader in your company or ministry, this year will undoubtedly come with a few problems. It’s part of life. It’s part of leadership. How you respond to those problems when they arise is what defines you as a leader or not. If you’re quick-tempered, defensive, blaming others for these new problems, you’ll lose your voice. However, if you will proactively confront the problems, pray about them, navigate a way forward, empowering team members to help you “fix it” they will rise to the occasion and your team will be better for it!
Problems are just opportunities in disguise - moments when your team can unify around a solution - moments for the team to be strengthened and the mission to be clarified.
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