Consistent Force - Part II

Consistent Force is the fourth of the eight forces of leadership. Yesterday’s article focused on the definition of Consistent Force. Remember many people will follow the fringe leader, the wild card leader,  or gamble their lives on the risky leader but a leader with Consistent Force is a leader who will again and again be granted the privilege of being a widely accepted leader who can do great things for our world.

Many leaders have consistently led people in tremendous truths toward a good goal but along the way become engrossed by the limelight, the success or the money and then fallen to selfishness. They often continue in that selfishness – having lost sight of the goal – and live differently than the good goal to which they lead people. The saddest part is that they are still leading people, and the people now follow their actions as much as their words and instruction.

Let’s pick on the Christian leader for a moment. He sets out leading people to do service in the church for the simple sake of benefiting others. He rightly shows them that such service fulfills the great commandment of Jesus and that we should serve with the motive of just doing good. Soon God blesses the leader’s genuine desire, prayers, writings and teaching. Great numbers of volunteers find fulfillment as they begin serving around and in the organization. It is as God would desire – everyone willingly sacrificing their time, money and lives so that other people might find a better life through Christ.

Interested people see the success and seek out this leader. Other leaders looking for help begin to call. He begins to write books, to tour, to be touted as one of the greatest Christian leaders of the day and the royalties begin to roll in. He now no longer leads anyone directly. The words and truths given by God continue to affect people who then give willingly to their church or organization. However, the cost of this truth is now $15 dollars for the book and $150 dollars for the conference. Followers and other leaders alike “lift up the man” who stands readily to sign their new book. Even worse, other “top dog” leaders now desire to become who this “leader” has become. His words are on servant leadership and volunteerism, but they are now led by the “success” of his actions as well and desire “his life” of conferences and limelight.

The earth still turns, time still passes and as it passes people are less interested in hearing about this leader. Most tire of the mailings and the marketing with only a few still clinging on. As he fades away with most likely his first book being his greatest, one must ask, “What has happened to the followers?” Some became disillusioned with the “fad” and the expense. Others simply love to follow fads and moved on to the next guru. All of the people saw - directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly – a lack or loss of consistency. His life could not stay consistent with the end goal to which he drew others. He no longer served for free and willingly just to benevolently help others find a better life in Christ. He hid behind the “expense of spreading the word” but, fundamentally, not only did it become his “job and support” but it has become his life. His life became the conference and he no longer led people – he has no example.

This example can be ported to any environment – it is not exclusive to Christian Leaders. It could as easily be about the salesman manager who preaches company profits but begins to take on questionable deals simply for the profit. It could be an example of a mom who speaks of integrity and honor but one day finds herself caught up in the admiration of her tennis friends playing to them for her self worth.

Consistent force is only consistent force while it is consistent. We all need to realize that we must do what we lead others to do, before they do, better than they do and even after they do. All of life’s successes are found in the little things and consistency is one of the greatest little things of all.

True leaders are leaders in character and the entirety of life. They will lead while following, while packing boxes or while being the CEO. The leader is consistently and over a long period of time a person of tremendous character, who affects everyone around them to gather together and achieve a common goal even if it is a goal they are helping someone else accomplish.

Organize others and lead to the end goal again and again with enduring moral fortitude – then you will have mastered one of the eight forces of leadership.