I recently received a letter from a young and gifted leader, asking about a leader on his team who does not value his desire to lead with accountability. When I realized how important this is, I asked for permission to share it with others, also:
God Values Accountability
God values accountability, and uses it to shape individuals. For instance, the cross is a reminder of God’s commitment to be accountable for my sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Preparing Yourself for Accountability
You must be prepared mentally and emotionally for gifted people on your team who do not want to be held accountable. For as a leader, your need to remember that you are accountable to God for your moral purity, and to the people you lead to provide moral clarity. You are also accountable to God to provide mental clarity. People do not care how much you know until they know how much you are committed to moral clarity and moral purity.
We live in a culture that demonizes moral clarity, and rewards moral and mental confusion. But accountability is a gift to any organization. Our social economic status affects our ability and willingness to be accountable. Leaders who pursue moral clarity and mental clarity will experience an unleashed attack from the enemy of their soul, for the devil’s goal is to attack your mind and distract you from holding people accountable on your team. Be wise in your words and in receiving compliments. Moral purity and clarity in the life of a leader unleashes the attack of the enemy on the leader.
Accountability is Crucial in Leadership Positions
The creation story in Genesis confirms my belief system that many individuals resist any form of structure of accountability. Remember that the natural tendency of any person is to resist accountability and structure. For instance, we have a generation of girls who are mothers and have not been transformed into godly women - they do not value accountability. We also have a generation of “boys” who refuse to get married because they do not value accountability. Leaders who do not want accountability will destroy your organization. He may be highly-gifted, but he’s not teachable. If a leader is not committed to learning and growing from you, then you should not invest your time in that leader.
Ask God for to protect you from "unreasonable fools" who resist accountability and structure. Ask God for strong leaders who are men and women of character, who are generous to you, and who will allow you to teach them. Strong leaders will never intimidate you with their gifts, but instead convict you with their character. Strong leaders will not manipulate you with compliments and words of affirmation to subject you to their personal agenda. So prayerfully lead your team with with accountability and structure.
Respectfully,
Pastor James Owolabi
Edited by Andy Gehron (DefendingTheLord.com)
Comments