Can People Really Change?

                                                    

Greetings,

Change is a constant reminder that everything experiences growth. So how does change start? It requires time and commitment, shifting responsibilities, and most people are still deciding whether to change how they have functioned. The consequences of change are predictable. Positive outcomes of change have provided secular and business organizations with opportunities to embrace new roles and improve past and present employee relations and responsibilities (Kotter, 2012). Leadership requires first being willing to embrace the needed change. Do not expect to be an effective leader if what you ask of others you are not willing to do yourself. 

God still expects his people to operate from a kingdom perspective. Knowing our roles and purpose as leaders is vital to see it from God's perspective.

 More significant still, the book of Genesis 1:26-27 declares that God made man in His image and likeness, which gives a view of our human behavior (Erickson, 2013). 

Ciarocchi and Mayer (2007) ask, "We can understand other people, but do we understand ourselves" (Ciarocchi & Mayer, 2007, p. 80)? Importantly, as a leader, the first order is learning how to manage one's emotional self.

Proverbs 16: 23 says, "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. 

                  

               How does leadership make the leap from ineffectiveness to effectiveness? 

Leadership is about relationships. Jesus is an excellent example of modeling positive behavior and relationships. Furthermore, leadership operates on the knowledge that leaders lead others by example, in their commitment first to God, self, and others. This writer understands the importance of biblical leadership and its effect on those a leader is leading. 

It begins with a leader's ability to model positive relationships with his followers. Research has shown that leaders can form positive relationships when the environment is conducive to vulnerability. 

                                          So how does vulnerability start?

Brown, in her book, repeatedly reminds us, "Without vulnerability, there can be no true innovation or change in any organization." Brown defines vulnerability as uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. Leaders exhibit courageous leadership when they are willing to be vulnerable—they are "all in"—even though it means they may fail or get hurt. Contrary to popular opinion, vulnerable leadership is not soft or weak. 

                                     Vulnerability is a sign of strong leadership.

 Essentially, "No vulnerability, no creativity. No tolerance for failure, no innovation. It is that simple. If you're not willing to fail, you can't innovate. If you're not willing to build a vulnerable culture, you can't create"(Brown, 2023).

              The people we lead always want to know whether we genuinely care about them.

                                          The formula for change is simple.

Paul admonishes believers to define and identify with Christ and the community of fellow believers meaningful in Romans 12:1-2. Paul expressly mandates believers to present themselves to God and organize their minds and behavior not with the world but with Christ to decrease their dependence on identifying with the world and increase Christ. 

Servant Leader,

Minister Sylvia Joyner