A Leader Must Give…Encouragement

In order to strengthen the heart of those around you, giving encouragement is not an option. A leader that fails to encourage their team will eventually find himself alone without a team. Encouragement does exactly what it says, it puts courage in others. When courage gets in others they will become bigger on the inside than they are on the outside. And when they have courage on the inside it will cause them to do bigger things on the outside. They will have the courage to step up and face greater opportunities as a result. Leaders are encouragers, they see themselves as courage builders. When a leader gives courage to the team through encouragement that team will do greater things than they could have done without it. Courage is something that every team and organization needs in order to do what they need to do and go where they need to go. It takes courage to venture out into uncharted territory. Every great advancement takes courage to go. In order to sail to new lands you have to have the courage to lose sight of the old shores. Whenever others step out of their comfort zone into the unknown there is always the potential to discover new areas of opportunity. Leaders encourage others to step out into the unknown and pursue greater things. Olympic weightlifter, author, and speaker Jim Stovell said,

 “You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.”

Everyone wants to be encouraged. Everyone wants to be significant. Everyone wants to be valued. Every person that has ever lived needs others to spur them on in someway or another. Encouragement pushes us along the journey. People are people, and people have real needs. Chick-Fil-A founder Truett Cathy said,

 “How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing.”

There is a special bamboo in China that serves as a great example of encouragement. Once planted the bamboo does not grow for four years. All during those four years it has to be watered and cultivated, but it doesn’t grow. The fifth year it does. It often reaches a height of 90 feet. If neglected during the first 4 years it never grows. If we neglect to encourage others they will never reach their potential. We grow because others help us grow! Think about what encouragement has done for you. I bet there was someone along your journey that encouraged you and it grew you on the inside. I bet it caused you to step out and do greater things as a result. Now why wouldn’t you want to do that for others?

I want to challenge you this week to be an encourager and put courage into others by your words and your actions. Identify 2-3 people that you will intentionally encourage this week. Make it  a point to talk with them and be aware of ways you can lift them up. Step up and be an encouraging leader at your work, at home, at church, in public, and with yourself! It is hard to encourage others when you don’t encourage yourself. Do to others what you would want them to do to you. Live the golden rule and go out of your way to encourage others!