When we think of “dependent” or “independent,” some of us who majored in English think of types of clauses. Others who work in business might think of the terms in light of somebody’s tax status. For this post, though, I’m thinking about my leadership style: do I lead from dependence on God or from dependence on self—which is really “independence”? Maybe these questions will help you evaluate your own leadership.
- Do I generally pray first about decisions, or do I decide first and then ask God to bless my decision? I fear too many of us—who by the nature of leadership must take initiative—operate with the latter independent spirit.
- Do I make decisions alone, or do I lean on the wisdom of others? Leadership demands lonely decisions at times, but this pattern in decision-making loses the input of others God has already placed in our lives.
- Do I confess and admit mistakes, or do I “bow up” in defense of myself when confronted? Independent leaders bow up; dependent leaders recognize their need to be honest and vulnerable with other believers to grow in God’s grace.
- Do I spend little time in spiritual disciplines, or do I savor my time in the Word and prayer? I define spiritual disciplines as “a cry for relationship with God and a confession of dependence on Him.” So, not prioritizing disciplines says much about our independent leadership.
- Do I relish the praise of others, or do I humbly and genuinely deflect the praise to God and His people? Answering this question requires a deep reflection of the heart, where we sometimes secretly want the very praise we “pretend” to deflect.
- Do I rely on my training and experience, or do I rely on God and His Spirit? As an educator, I do affirm training and experience – but relying on them apart from God won’t result in much eternal difference.
- Am I more a “fixer” or a “pray-er”? You can be both at times, but independent leaders usually fix first. Fixers often look for solutions before they seek godly wisdom.
- Do I prefer to be on a throne or an altar? I don’t know many leaders who would admit their desire to be a “king,” but I do know some who seemingly prefer the spotlight to the sacrifice. I admit I’m one of those leaders sometimes.
What are your thoughts? What questions might you add?