Friday Night: Dr. John Maxwell Tim Elmore was told on one of his first evaluations from John Maxwell that he had off the platform charism and that this weakness was something he needed to work on to be an effective leader. Off the platform charism means when he was teaching on the platform he had a great message about loving eachother and then when he got off he didn't hug or encourage or spend time reaching out to the people in the congregation, because he felt that the priority was giving a good message. "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care," said John Maxwell. Do you want to impress people or impact people. (Go to where the people are) You need to first be a listener to be a leader. Jesus listened to the people and taught from their questions. The people can't know what true and unconditional love is until they see an example of it. As a leader you should act out what you speak, so others can follow your example. What are you doing in speech, but not in actions? Making the tough call isn't easy. Like letting go a high member of staff in the church. Everyone will be called to do the unpopular thing at sometime in their life to do what they know to be the right thing to do. I used to believe that accomplishing the task of being a good leader meant that everyone I am leading would be happy. But God said to me, "Did I call you to make people happy or to help people?" As a steward of a congregation, I had to obey GOD no matter the consequences. If you're going to be a leader, then there are times when you will have to take the heat. For example: There was a man in a high position in the church are every body loved him and he got along with everyone, but I found out something in his personal life that was against God and would ruin his marriage, so I fired in him in hopes to save his marriage. The congregation and even the staff was very upset with me, but I did not back down and I did not announce the reason, because I wanted their marriage to have a chance. 5 years later the couple split up and in the board meeting every one was shocked. I told them that I knew about it for five years and they had so much peace knowing that I was trusted with that information and took the heat for my descision for five years in hopes to help that couple stay unified. The Lord many times stepped back, so others could shine. We need to be the same way. Taking the high road means-loving on people that continually attack you. Leaders have to rise above pettiness. When you're teaching people to love unconditionally-get off the stage and hug all the people who hate you. I think leadership means giving up your rights. Those that want to be first need to be last. Leaders loose the right to be selfish. People are always telling us to improve our weakness, but I believe we need to focus on increasing our strengths. Because even if we improve our weaknesses, they will still be average, but if we improve on our strengths then they will always be above average and that is what people are looking for is someone that rises above the average. Lead from your strengths. God will never hold you accountable for spiritual gifts you haven't been given. But He will hold you accountable for what you have been given. If you're wondering what your purpose is, then choose to discover you strengths in every area and then improve on them. Successful people find their strength zone and increase it. I have found out that I am not a counselor, but I am a teacher. The differences between the two are: when you counsel people-you work on their weaknesses and when you equip people you work on their strengths. When you are confronting someone understand that confrontation is not about winning. It's a leaders responsibility to bring truth to a situation. I usually will talk to someone privately about what I see and then ask them if I perceived it rightly and if I didn't, I will apologize. The purpose is to get understanding and mutual respect- not to condemn. Before they leave the office, I will say to them, "You may not like me, but if you leave-know I love you." | 
