How to Level Up Your Leadership

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How to Level Up Your Leadership

Have you ever considered your leadership potential? Are you the type of leader who is willing to embrace the idea that to evolve as a leader, you need to continue your training and learning regardless of your position? Do you attempt to lead in your own strength? Do you limit your leadership abilities because you are inadequately prepared?

What does leadership capacity look like? A woman with leadership capacity displays integrity, courage, and curiosity in her leadership and followership. She is a woman who is willing to admit that she doesn’t have the answer, but will find it. Leadership capacity is not static; it expands as we pursue knowledge.

If you aspire to lead at the highest level, you will need to honestly assess your leadership capabilities. A true evaluation of your leadership will help you avoid becoming a stagnant or monotonous leader. To help you plan and prepare for your leadership growth, I’ve offered some thoughts and tips on how to level up your leadership capacity. Let’s get started!

Level Up by Helping Others

One of my favorite leadership quotes is by John Maxwell: “The first step to leadership is servanthood.”

This quote speaks loudly to anyone who desires to lead. Don’t wait for the position or title, just start leading through serving and helping people. It amazes me the number of women I meet with who hold remarkable leadership skills but are hesitant to step into a leadership role. #truth

In my early years as a private school admissions assistant, I had a mentor share, “Don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want.” Her words were not specifically about dress protocol. Her advice went much deeper. If you want to level up your leadership, you’ll need to lead right where you are, in your current position, and help others do the same. Regardless of your title, you need to dress the part, act the part, and do what no one else is willing to do.

“One skilled in business discovers prosperity, but the one who trusts in God is blessed beyond belief!” Proverbs 16:20 (TPT)

Level Up through Obedience

I am forever thankful for the support and mentorship of this incredible woman. And, I want to pay it forward! I encourage you to lean in to your leadership. Follow the leader, be the leader, be a team player. Take a step today to elevate your leadership. Don’t allow your thoughts to hold you back from what you were created to do. If you begin to question your leadership abilities, you’ll shut down before you get started.

If you’re anything like me, I’m sure you have moments where you think who am I to ________ (fill in the blank). Well, YOU, my friend, are a daughter of the King. You were created for such a time as this, just like Abigail, Esther, and Huldah, and the many other women leaders of the Bible who leaned into the opportunities presented to them. These women elevated their leadership through obedience. They put their fears aside and stepped into their calling. Abigail saved her household. Esther saved her people from destruction. Huldah saved the people of her time.

Remember the words of James: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV).

Level Up by the Power of the Holy Spirit

You are created in His image. In times of doubt, remember God’s truth – you have a great deal of leadership capacity because YOU are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Doesn’t this excite you? God’s power is within YOU! He is working through you, and all you need to do is trust God to work all things for your good because without Him, “you will be operating in your own strength, accomplishing human-size results” (Francis Chan).

The power of the Holy Spirit fills YOU. The Holy Spirit equips, encourages, and empowers leaders to serve well. That’s some power! And if that kind of power resides within you, imagine the leadership capacity you hold due to the power of the Spirit!

Francis Chan writes in his book, Forgotten God, “We all have to answer the question: Do I want to lead or be led by the Spirit?”

When you begin to question your leadership abilities or doubt your position, ask yourself Who is it that is leading you? It is my prayer that you allow the power of the Holy Spirit to lead you.

“I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.” Romans 15:13 (CEV)

Level Up by Trusting in Christ

How secure are you? When you trust in Christ, you are assured of His strength. Why is this so important as a leader? Because my friend, the struggles and challenges are real. There will be struggles and frustrations. But, if you trust in Christ, placing all your faith in Christ when these situations arise, you will persevere because you are assured that God will work all things for your good.

I’ve encountered some unbelievable circumstances in my leadership journey, including disloyalty, oppression, and insult. I would love to share that my leadership journey has been void of complications, but to be truthful, I’ve experienced some rather disappointing moments. Fortunately, due to my faith, I wasn’t thrown off course. I can honestly look back on these instances with empathy for those leaders who lacked the capacity to lead well. They were leading in their own strength.

However, these moments did not deter me from my mission to inspire women to fulfill their purpose in everyday life. Why? Because I am secured in Christ. Regardless of their abilities or lack thereof, I’ve learned from every individual God placed before me. I genuinely believe you cannot give what you have not received, and for whatever reason, the dysfunctional leaders to whom I have been subjected have a lid on their leadership that only they can remove. I am thankful God used these unpleasant situations for my good.

“We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.” Romans 8:28 (VOICE)

Level Up through His Strength

God placed these leaders in my life to equip me for my journey. Even in the troubled times, I was being shaped to lead, and God used these imperfect leaders as an example of what not to do when placed in a position of leadership. He was preparing me. Above all, I do not rely on my own knowledge and strength but seek the power of the Holy Spirit to lead me. I actively seek Him.

Who are you relying on to lead you? Are you depending on your own strength? If so, you have placed a lid on your leadership. I encourage you to seek God and ask Him to reveal any areas in which you are depending on yourself or others for your success. Ask God to reveal the potential weaknesses in your leadership, such as pride, a lack of integrity, or pessimism.

Seek God and humbly accept His conviction. God will never wrestle with us. It is our choice. Through His Word, He will continually reveal new truths to make us more like Jesus. Take heart. It’s easy to skim past the truths and ignore our weaknesses. No one likes to confront their vulnerabilities, but if we desire to grow, to level up our leadership capacity, we must accept the truth and step out in obedience.

“Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you.” John 14:16 (CEV)

Rise Up!

Are you ready to rise?

Are you ready to raise your leadership lid?

I pray you will take time to reflect on God’s Word and lean into the areas He is calling you to. Trust God to work in and through you. Humbly submit your ways to the Lord, and He will use you for extraordinary service. All you need to do is surrender, serve, and rely on God to lead you step by step. I’m not sure about you, but I know I want God-sized results. Here I am, send me!

“Then I heard the Lord saying, ‘Whom should I send to my people? Who will go to represent us?’ I spoke up and said, ‘I will be the one. Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8 (TPT)