Important Leadership Principle

Leadership is such an imposing topic. Not because it's so difficult to understand, but because it can be so simple to implement. Just when I think I've gotten a good handle on it I realize I don't know near as much as I thought I did! Take for example the task of making sound decisions. There's a balance that leaders must maintain. We can't be too stubborn to admit a mistake, or too inflexible to change, but neither can we allow ourselves to follow those whom we are called to lead.

I see parents do this all too often...and I think I've been guilty of it as well! They make a decision, the kids object, and, after a bit of noise is made, the parents relent. I've also seen employers do this, as well as teachers, pastors, and coaches.

Jesus said, "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No', 'No.'" (Matthew 5:37) He was talking about using oaths to give strength to your words. The principle applies here, too.

Only a 'yes' should be enough; we shouldn't have to strengthen it with other words. And 'yes' should always be 'yes,' even when 'yes' is unpopular is unpopular with the 'no' crowd.

The worst thing a leader can do is to allow those he leads to make his calls for him. When you make an obvious bad call, your leadership can withstand the occasional reversal -- if you create a pattern of leadership in which 'yes' means 'yes.'