Guest Post by Rena Kosiek, Willow Creek Association
Have you ever been in a tough situation or circumstance that you didn’t want to face? A situation that made you angry and uncomfortable when you thought about it. We all have. We all face these kinds of tough situations.
I have the privilege of working with the Global Leadership Summit and this year I noticed a common theme throughout the sessions. The reoccurring question was, “How am I reacting to tough situations?” Being deeply challenged, I started to wrestle with my reactions to situations, especially the ones I was currently dealing with at the time.
I have reacted to tough situations out of a selfish place. I have been passive, I have avoided others and I have been reluctant to own my side of things. Honestly, I’ve reacted in ways that benefit me.
Dictionary.com defines perspective as the state of one’s ideas, the facts known to one.
I have learned that reaction is birthed from perspective. But how is perspective formed? Perspective is a choice. Since I’ve been able to recognize this, I have found it key to learn about the discipline of perspective. To develop the discipline of perspective, it is important to acknowledge, accept and apply the following realities:
- Because perspective is a choice, YOU have to strive to see things differently.
- YOU aren’t always right. Everyone has the right to an opinion.
- If your immediate reaction comes from a place of anger, it usually means that there is something in YOU that needs to be worked on.
At the Summit, Bill Hybels summed it up well:
It all comes down to whether or not you want to give God, your fellow leaders, and the cause you lead, the absolute best leadership you are capable of giving them.
It’s important for leaders to recognize the root of their reactions and the influential power they hold. Whether it’s your team, your friends, or your family, someone is observing you and they will respond to how you react.
How have you had to shift your perspective in a tough situation?
__________________________________________________________
The Leadership Summit 2012 Team Edition is an excellent leadership resource for teams leading in the Church or tackling Work/Marketplace issues. Whether you’re reviewing what you’ve learned, building a leadership library, or extending the reach of The Leadership Summit further into your church team, this DVD resource is an excellent value.
The Leadership Summit 2012 Team Edition includes the following speakers: Bill Hybels, Jim Collins, Geoffrey Canada, Sheryl WuDunn, John Ortberg, William Ury, Craig Groeschel, Patrick Lencioni, Pranitha Timothy, and Mario Vega.
