josh whitehead

Most of us like to focus on leading others, but I often find that leading myself can be more difficult than leading others. There is a war being waged in the lives of leaders. It is the battle of the ages, and one of the most difficult to “win.” Here’s what I find in the battle with myself:

• It seems natural to know where others need growth and development but at times more difficult to see the areas in my own life where I need the same development.
• My “job” is about developing others. It’s easy to get so caught up in them that I forget about me.
• Sometimes I want to develop my family like I do the ministry (to avoid bruising you, I will stop there).
• At times it is difficult to accept feedback from others or just listen to them because my focus is on developing them.

Honestly, I could stop here, all of us say “amen,” and then go back to our busy lives. But SERIOUSLY: how are you doing at leading yourself? Are you winging it personally, spiritually, or emotionally? Are you asking others to do things that you are not doing yourself because you are to “busy”?

Jesus said,

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5, NIV

As leaders of leaders, we need to take the time to grow and develop in our own lives so that we can continually develop those around us. Where are you dropping the ball in leading yourself? Today, mine is in keeping up with my reading. What about you?