John Stanko

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin" - 1 Peter 4:10.

Peter Drucker. father of modern management studies, once said that leadership's effectiveness is often determined in part by their ability to endure pain and suffering and still lead. Leadership can indeed be a painful experience, for leaders must deal regularly with the uncertainties of life and business, the fickleness of employees and customers, and the nature of leading that makes them targets for criticism, competition, and people who chafe under anyone's authority. This is where Jesus can especially help leaders, for He certainly understands what it is like to suffer and not respond, but rather stay the course with exceptional focus that produced excellent leadership.

LEADERSHIP STEP: How is your attitude toward suffering? Are you bearing up under the pain of leadership and still leading? Your Leadership Step today is to search your heart and see if any bitterness has crept in toward anyone who has betrayed or offended you in your work (or family) and if that has caused you to retreat as a means of self-protection. If you have, then forgive them (perhaps even setting up a meeting with them), ask God to forgive you, and get back to being a leader.