How to Prevent Sinking

This question was asked on our podcast: How do you stay positive in a negative moment or when someone presents a negative thought or are negative towards you? It gets into that life you guys were talking about...leaders are called to lift. How do you lift when things are sinking?

When things are sinking:

Look for the holes in the ship.

What is not working?
What are areas that don’t serve others?

Address them swiftly.

Lovingly talk to the people over these areas.
Be clear about the current situation. Jesus did this!

Luke 9:46-48 46An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

Ask them how they feel in this season. (You’d be surprised that some people are ready to move on to a different area.)

Call people to the standard.

If leaders are not leading at the standard that is required, tell them. Good leaders respect the standard. Bad leaders will be exposed by it.

Start with the standard.

When you share what the standard is, when the standard isn’t met, it is clear for everyone.

Moments are so spontaneous and unpredictable. These are the times that can shape us the most. This is where you must be ready as a leader. This is where the “filling” is most important. Always spend time filling up as a leader, so that even in the spontaneous moments, we are always ready.