Packing properly for the occasion can mean the difference between success and failure. When you are heading out on a fishing trip, you need to be sure to pack poles, tackle, bait, food, etc. Forgetting any one of these key items could ruin your trip.
A mentor of mine recently shared how he packs for each day, knowing he might encounter people that need spiritual help or guidance. He always has his car trunk full of materials that he can share with others. Things like books such as Lead for God’s Sake and Jesus Calling, CD’s such as an interview with John Wooden and “If you Want to Walk on Water, You have to get out of the Boat”. All these things allow him to effectively serve others.
This got me thinking about how a servant leader should prepare for each day. What are the tools that should be packed?
A servant leader should pack the following:
- Your Purpose – Always stay locked down on your personal purpose. Allow it to guide your activities for the day.
- Your Values – Allow your values to guide your behaviors throughout each day. Your behaviors will exhibit to others the culture you desire.
- Encouragement – Set out to encourage everyone you encounter each day. Be that person who lifts others up at every interaction.
- Drive for Improvement – Set the bar high. You can be better than you were yesterday. Figure out how.
- Listening ears – Step into each day curious. Listen more than you speak and see how much you can learn each day. Leave your answers at home.
- Respect – Step into each day leading with trust. If you lead with trust, and show respect to everyone you encounter you will gain people’s trust as well.
- Commitment – Be courageous and do the right thing, always!
- Humility & Vulnerability – Ask others how you are doing and where you could improve. Reflect for yourself at the end of each day on how you did and where you could improve tomorrow.
The more intentional you are about packing properly for each day, the more likely you will be to exhibit the attributes of servant leadership, and the more positive impact you will have on people’s lives each day.
Proper packing for the day will lead to high performance!
Mark Deterding
Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. Proverbs 24:27
This really struck me this morning. My life has been chaos since Memorial Day, some fun, some not fun at all, but things seem to have settled down and I find it difficult to settle down myself. You might be on to something here. What should I pack for each day? By the way, I loved that book by John Ortberg “If you Want to Walk on Water, You have to get out of the Boat” and “Soul Keeping” touched me like no other. I have “All the places to go, how will you know”. Thanks for the reminder that I should be packing some pretty critical tools for a successful day.
Thanks for your comments Jane! I think you’re right the more intentional we are about what we pack for the day the better prepared we will be to serve those in our life. The mentor that I mention in this article as given away 1,000’s of those books and CD’s in his life. His preparation has enabled him to make a huge difference in many people’s lives, including mine. Blessings on your day as you positively impact all those people you touch.
I have Jesus Calling and Lead For God’s Sake both on my Nook and in printed form. The print version of Lead for God’s Sake is in constant loan-out though. I have also given Jesus Calling as gifts, but not by the trunkful. Although, I can see how either of those books would be an encouragement to anyone who reads them and having a trunk filled with them has amazing potential to change lives.