Breakthrough Leadership Development in the Age of Chaos and Craziness (Letters from the King)

Breakthrough Leadership Development in the Age of Chaos and Craziness (Letters from the King)

I’ll admit…when I wrote my leadership development guide, Millennials Matter: Proven Strategies for Building Your Next Gen Leader, I was completely biased. As a mother of three amazing Millennials, I knew that the stereotypes didn’t apply to every member of this generation.  They weren’t all lazy, selfish, self-absorbed, entitled, tech-crazy losers! I had to change those stereotypes that ignored the important role this generation will play in our future.

After publishing Millennials Matter, something amazing happened. I met an army of leaders who shared my passion. I was invited to take part in podcasts, interviewed for magazines and newspapers, gave a TEDx talk, and contributed to other authors’ books on the same topic…

We shared a vision to develop character-based leaders for the future.  And we were all asking one powerful question.

“What might I do to make a positive impact?”

What are you doing to develop strong leaders who can stand strong in today’s chaotic culture?

Leadership Development Makes a Positive Impact in the World

In this series, I’ll share extracts of some of my favorite writing projects. It is my hope that the Leadership Development Book Series will inspire you to find fresh insight into how you might make a difference in our crazy, disrupted world.

The world needs leaders with solid character. That’s why your leadership matters, NOW, more than ever. It’s time to expand your leadership influence

In the first article in this series, I’ll be featuring my devotional parable, Letters from the King. You’ll discover how leadership development guidance comes in surprising packages!

Leadership Development Inspiration in Letters From the King 

Leadership development has been integrated into almost everything I have written or talked about in recent years. But I must confess, I was a little surprised when a business leader recently mentioned that she had picked up my leadership development book, and found it insightful.

I assumed she was talking about my most recently published book, Millennials Matter, Proven Strategies for Building your Next-Gen Leaders.

With curiosity, I asked, “Which section did you find most challenging? The section on Character, Confidence, or Collaboration?”

To my surprise, she exclaimed, “Every page in Letters from the King inspired me to revisit and refine my leadership development strategies.”

What?!?

Letters from the King was published in 2014. About 10 years ago!

In this devotional parable, I ask important questions…

• Have you ever wondered how you can do it all?
• How can you cope with mistakes, make wise choices, not feel so overwhelmed, and even be empowered to be on a mission?
• Have your troubles ever prompted you to wish God would reply to your questions in a way that you could hear him?

Here’s what the back cover says:

Letters from the King take you on a journey to a place where parable and reality meet. Where you are the daughter (or the son) of the King and he answers the letters you write. He guides you with unexpected wisdom and holds you close with immeasurable love. In this parable, you learn to see yourself the way God sees you—as his most precious treasure.

Leadership Development In Today’s Chaos and Craziness   

I believe that the questions asked in Letters from the King are still valid. W are all looking for unparalleled measures of wisdom to lead in these crazy times.

That’s why your leadership matters, NOW, more than ever.

Review on GoodReads.com

“My friend, Tammy, met the author of this book. She gave this book to me for a gift and told me she was going to read it and study it when she went for a health retreat in Florida. She gave the book to her prayer warrior team. My Bible study group ended up reading it together and discussing it. We love the writing style of the author and how she brought our daily lives and living for Christ together. We all learned a lot and had a great discussion which prompted each one of us to deeper of faith and walk with our great Heavenly Father and know we are his Beloved Daughters.” ~ Marilyn Haugen May 19, 2017

Working through my vision, values, and virtues statements, I continue to use this list, as set out in the Afterword of Letters from the King, as guide stones. I trust this excerpt will give you hope for the future, and strengthen you as you expand your leadership influence.

“My hope and prayer for you, my friend, is this:

1. God calls us to love. We often get so caught up in our to-do lists, keep-up-with-the-Jones lists, and I’ve-got-my-act-together Super Woman lists, and he keeps bringing us back to love. I trust that you come to know his love at the core of your being so that you constantly overflow with his love to every person you meet and in every situation your encounter.
2. God teaches us daily how to be ambassadors, to be a vessel through which his life-giving Spirit flows. He often prompts us to pray for spouses, children, in-laws, neighbors, clients, employees, and even strangers whom we see or meet. He also gives us abundant opportunities to encourage, serve, and meet their needs spiritually, relationally, and motivationally. I hope that you increasingly walk with the power, purpose, and presence of the Holy Spirit, overflowing with gratitude and thankfulness for the unlimited riches that are yours in Christ.
3. If we are called to live a life of 24/7 worship, what does that practically look like in the role of a spouse? Parent? Business leader? Colleague? Employer? I challenge you to continuously ask, “How might I lift high the light of Jesus Christ in a practical, down-to-earth way in every situation, whether at home, work or neighborhood?” I know that he will heal and strengthen you as you bring that light to others.
4. When people ask me what advice I have for living, I almost always include, “Hang around people who laugh a lot!” Modern studies show that laughter truly is good medicine for the soul! Plus, we are Christ-followers who know the end of the story. We will be victorious! Laughter is one of the greatest weapons we have to proclaim that God is the victor! So I pray that God empowers you with deep laughter and that you are an inspirational joy to those who are searching for his love, life, and light.
5. It took many years before I began internalizing the truth that God had called me, and is calling me, to leadership. For some reason, I believed a deep-seated, energy-sapping lie that women don’t lead. This is my continuing journey. I pray you fully embrace your leadership gifts and talents, presenting them to the King of Kings. He will empower you for Kingdom impact.

To be a vessel overflowing with Love, Life, Light, Laughter, and Leadership, we must walk in the presence, power, and purposes of the Most High King. Therefore, it’s important to develop the practices that keep us in tune with what God is doing in us and around us. Continue to develop the spiritual practices of reading the Word, meditating (praying and listening to him), and being involved in a worshipping community. These are important to being fully all that God has designed us to be. These, fellow daughters of the King, enable us to go forth and be his ambassadors of love.

Is a call to love easy to fulfill? No, it isn’t. It goes against human nature, and even more, it is a lifelong calling. I’ve learned that the more clear and distinct God’s voice is when he calls us, the more difficult a task might be. That’s been true in my life. I’ve struggled (as someone glued to her to-do lists) to figure out what it means to be a missionary in the professional marketplace, as well as what it means to show love.

It started as a seed God planted in my heart. With his presence and guidance (and constant reminders to love), that seed will continue to grow. With him, all things are possible.

God has called us to love. He is calling you now. 

I leave you with this final word:

Fully

Lord,

Help me to fully accept your love,
That I may fully love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Help me to fully abide in your Light,
That I may fully shine the Light of Jesus Christ to those around me.

Help me to fully experience your life,
That I may be a full vessel by which your life flows to others.

Help me to fully know your joy and laughter,
That I may fully share your joy and laugh with others.

In the name of Mighty Jesus!”

(Excerpt from Afterword of Letters from the King – Page 127 – 129)

Talking to someone about leadership development and then hearing that they found something that you have written helpful, is one of the most rewarding experiences for any writer. The fact that this reader got leadership development inspiration from a spiritual devotional, Letters from the King, made this conversation even more special.

This conversation reminds me that when we are living in our purpose, no matter what we do, what we write, or what we talk about, it’s all part of God’s plan for our lives. He can use everything and anything you do to work miracles in the lives of those around you.

In fact, you have been born for a time such as this. You have been uniquely created to lead in this crazy, chaotic culture. You have been strategically sent to these people, this place, this time, this nation, to make a positive difference.

It’s time to expand your leadership influence.

Your leadership matters, NOW, more than ever.

In the next article in this series, I’m spotlighting my leadership guidebook, Millennials Matter, Proven Strategies for Building your Next-Gen Leader.

Leadership Development Lesson: You have been given the tools, skills, and resources to expand your leadership influence – find the opportunity where you can make a difference.

Leadership Development Question: What has God called you to do to make a positive impact on a future leader in your sphere of influence?