Leaders say “I trust you, let me know how your doing”, Managers say “Show me what your doing and let me show you how to do it”.

Leaders say “Keep me posted on your progress”, Managers says “Let me know where you are with this and before you do anything else, touch base with me”.

Leadership and management aren’t the same thing although they can get pretty close.Both of them deal with people and both of them require trust but it’s in the approach that it varies. A manager will always make the call, show the way and stay pretty close to the situation. A leader will ultimately make the call but will invite others to participate and even trust others with an idea, they will suggest a certain way and want updates near the situation. Can you see the differences or similarities?

A manager doesn’t let others lead. Leaders let others lead. Manager doesn’t have high trust and is accountable for everything. A leader gives high trust and high accountability.

Which one are you more like?

One of the surest, quickest and fastest ways to simply destroy your goals, dreams and plans is to have a TOXIC attitude. Nothing will impede your own growth and progress more than a toxic attitude. You can lack experience, you can lack passion even, but if you bring a toxic attitude into your situation, it’s pretty much a guarantee that you are bound to fail.

Be aware of how you react. Be aware of how you receive feedback. Be aware of the immediate thoughts that run through your mind when getting corrected. Be aware of your eyes (do they roll?) or (do they roll on the inside?). Be aware of your feelings and ultimately your spirit, is it teachable?

Here is what God’s word reminds us when it comes to our attitude:

Eph 4:22 “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

There are several things that can give you a hint that you are doing what God has called you to do. The book of Nehemiah helps us see this more clearly, he was called to rebuild the wall and when it didn’t sit well with those around you, look out, here come the arrows. You can be sure that if your gonna do anything incredible for God, you will face several tests that can affirm the work he is doing in you and through you.

1. People will criticize the work- You will always have people (who don’t do any of the work themsevles) but have plenty to say about how YOUR doing the work, this is a clear sign your heading in the right direction. Remember, critics are everywhere and everyone has an opinion, if you hearing from God, just keep building.

2. Enemies will unite against you- Ever notice this, people getting together to plot against all the things your doing, or you realize a team of “thinkers” has come out of the blue? Trying to convince you to stop or slightly change what your doing? This again is evidence that what your doing is having eternal impact and you just gotta realize, the work is MUCH more important than stopping to address tha nay sayers.

3. God will give you favor- If you are seeking God, walking according to his ways, he won’t leave you out there by yourself, he will go before you and bless your work, he will give you favor with your leaders, with those who need to know what’s happening, it wont be without adversity but know this, God will bless your work and THAT in itself is another sign that your doing the right thing, just keep building.

Nehemiah 6:3 “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”