Best Practices for Mentoring – Part 3

Progress You Can Measure

It is important to encourage your potential leaders to review their goals and progress frequently. Ben Franklin set aside time every day to review two questions. In the morning he asked himself, “What good shall I do today?” In the evening he asked, “What good have I done today?”

How do you overcome discouragement so you can move ahead?

1. Take time to grow.
   I minister better when I take time to relax, read, recreate, spend time with family and friends, and grow professionally.
2. Sift through criticism.
   While I take informed, constructive criticism seriously, my ministry is too precious to let unbridled criticism sabotage it.
3. Refuse to live with loneliness.
   Make cultivating friendships a priority.
4. Discern the source of your frustration.
   Differentiate the challenges intrinsic to ministry from the frustrations that arise because of differing cultural expectations, educational backgrounds, and philosophies of ministry between pastor and church.
5. Work your plan – then stop.
   Having a long- range plan and carrying it through are the best antidotes to the paralysis of guilt. Set a realistic plan and stop with that.
6. Persist.
   When progress seems to come to a halt, I think: The Lord wants me to accomplish something here. If I persist, He’ll help me break through to someone in a way that will be rewarding.

Responsible Leaders Make Responsible Followers

[Author unknown]

1. A godly leader speaks out of the presence of God.
2. A humble leader never makes light of eternal truths, but esteems them with reverence.
3. A wise leader resolves conflicts peacefully, not forcefully.
4. An enduring leader withstands insult without anger.
5. A wholesome leader is characterized by tolerance, which saves him from hasty decisions in crisis, and retaliations in the face of contrariness.
6. The good leader attempts to make friends, not enemies.
7. Dealing harshly with opponents causes more aggravation and hostility. A polite leader uses gentleness and kindness.
8. A leader who listens well to his subordinates manages them well.
9. The greatness of a leader is in his humility before God, not in his eloquence before man.
10. A devoted leader gives himself totally to the ones he is leading, helping them to develop their undiscovered potential.
11. A patient leader remembers that people’s responses vary according to their nature, temperament, and level of development.
12. A mature leader shows highest respect for others, irrespective of race or rank.
13. A wise leader guards himself against the pitfalls of success, self-assertiveness and over- confidence.
14. Broken promises quickly destroy confidence in leadership.
15. A wise leader inspires and motivates rather than intimidating and manipulating.
16. A weak leader retreats in the face of rising difficulties and loses the respect of his followers.
17. Severe trials open the door to new revelation.
18. The path of leadership is always lonely.
19. The greater the leader the greater his fall when he succumbs to temptations.
20. A teachable leader eagerly probes for truth learned by others regardless of their status.
21. A relaxed leader relaxes his followers.
22. The self-righteous leader lives in a cell made of blocks of deception, hypocrisy, and lies.
23. A stubborn leader is a menace who cannot be trusted by his colleagues.

By Tim Pruitt

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