THE LAW OF THE LID: How Leaders Set The Bar For Their Followers

When a pot is placed on the stove or fireplace, the water will be heated gradually until it reaches very high temperatures. Eventually the ...

When a pot is placed on the stove or fireplace, the water will be heated gradually until it reaches very high temperatures. Eventually the water will boil producing steam and sounds. The boiling water will be jumping up and down trying to escape from the pot, but as long as the lid is there it will not. The level of the lid determines the height and extent of movement of the boiling water. The only way to allow flexibility on the boiling water is to lift the lid higher. Only then will the water find space to move upwards.

THE LAW OF THE LID: How Leaders Set The Bar for Their Followers

The same principle applies in leadership! “The lower an individual’s ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential. The higher the individual’s ability to lead, the higher the lid on his potential”, says Dr John C. Maxwell. It is very difficult to inspire your subordinates beyond your reach. If you check on them, they most likely perform below you; and if ever they continue in their steady, they will only reach your level as their leader.

EVERY LEADER BEWARE: Exciting People vs Impacting Lives My father Bishop (Apostle) Pride Sibiya (www.pridesibiya.com), at a Sacraments and Liturgy Leadership Seminar of Glory Ministries (www.glorymin.net), took a length time to explain the dynamics involved between ‘impressing/exciting people’ and ‘building/impacting lives’. "You impress at a distance but you can only impact closely", he said. Ladies and Gentlemen; great servants of the Most High God, it is important for you to understand that stewardship and shepherding of God's people goes beyond the pulpit ministry. When you come to church and preach powerfully, cast out devils, speaking in tongues, prophesying with great accuracy and precision; all that is very exciting to people. The congregants will go crazy and shout “go papa go”. However, that forms just about 10% of ministry and its full spectrum. The greatest impact you can have on people is to visit the sick, stand with them when they are arrested, go and bury their relatives, provide them with food when they are admitted in hospitals or locked up in jails, going to their houses and sit down on that small stool, eat in their houses that plate of sadza and derere (okra), pay them a visit when everyone deserts them, hold their dirty children in your hands. When you begin to stand and live close by your sheep, the bond becomes so strong, and in most cases you can actually see them shedding tears in your presence. That's impacting people.

If you knock off from work at 2 pm, they will also do the same regardless of the outstanding work to be done. If you are a church leader who gives 50 cents in offerings, check your subordinates! They most likely give 30 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents. If you don't pray at home, most likely all your children just go to sleep without praying. If you survive by stealing and armed robbery just check your children if they are not doing the same. The same goes for prostitutes, even though they usually want their children not to venture into their trade; most often than not the children end up being prostitutes, copying what their parent does.

Therefore, we have to be extremely careful in life on how we lead and conduct ourselves! Because, whatever we do determines the level of performance of those who are below us. Be a good leader, who determines greater levels of performance in good things for your followers.

Written by Tapiwa Zuze