Leadership can be challenging, especially in times where none of those we lead express confidence in us. What can be even a greater challenge is when you, as a leader, have no confidence in your leadership either!
Those we lead can lose confidence in our leadership perhaps due to a series bad decisions. Perhaps from feeling you are not making a wise decision on something in particular. Sometimes the leader doubts himself and draws courage from the confidence and affirmation from those he leads but not always.
But when the needed affirmation does not come what can the leader do? I don’t have many ideas or suggestions for this but I think I have one that must always be the first option and not the last resort:
4-6 David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him.
6-7 David strengthened himself with trust in his God. He ordered Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the Ephod so I can consult God.” Abiathar brought it to David.
8 Then David prayed to God, “Shall I go after these raiders? Can I catch them?”
The answer came, “Go after them! Yes, you’ll catch them! Yes, you’ll make the rescue!” (1 Samuel 30:6-8, The Message)
When you get to challenging situations with your team or organization, one thing the leader must never, do is fall in the same despair as those he leads. The survival and thriving of an organization is dependent on the leader rising above the despair of the ones he leads.
Before he can lead others out of hopelessness he needs to lead himself out of it first! David, king of Israel, looked into the future by looking to God. Seeking God allows us to see from a vantage point that builds or strengthens our hope and expectation for what lies ahead.
Moments of uncertainty and diffidence can be either defining or destructive depending on where you turn to ‘lift yourself’ out of the situation and ultimately the team around you. The depth of the leader’s walk in seeking God directly affects the boldness with which He faces the future and leads others into it.
The confidence of the leader is derived from the assurance of having God’s backing for an endeavor, from seeking God’s face. The leader confident of God’s backing will lead his people confidently too! Your first option for building confidence in leading as a ministry leader must be seeking God and not your last resort.