Young children require full assistance from their parents. Parents feed them, bathe them, dress them, rock them, play with them, and change them. But there comes a day in the life of the child when the child boldly proclaims: “No, I do it!” It is one of those early signs of maturing and development on the part of the child. Whether they are trying to dress themselves, bathe themselves, feed themselves, or even brush their own teeth, children begin to realize that there are some things they must do for themselves.

Part of the qualities present in an effective leader includes the realization that on-going leadership development is a personal responsibility that cannot be delegated to someone else or left to chance. An effective leader wants to stay fresh and sharp. To do so, he or she accepts the personal task of honing skills, strengthening character, improving relationships, and increasing knowledge.

When the leader says “I do it” in relationship to on-going development, how does he or she accomplish it? For most leaders it is a combination of several valuable resources. There are numerous books that deal with leadership in general or others that focus on one specific aspect of leadership such as developing and casting vision. Some leaders find help in their friendships with other leaders as they share their insights with each other. Observing high quality leaders is another way to keep one’s own leadership sharp. Perhaps, the first resource many leaders consider is attending a conference or workshop in the appropriate area of need.

One of my sad observations over the years has been that church leaders, including pastors and staff, are often guilty of failing to accept this responsibility of one’s own development. Excuses for neglecting on-going training abound in the church community. A lack of money, a lack of time, and a false sense of being prepared top the list of the average minister or church leader.

May I be so bold as to make three statements to refute these stated excuses? First, we spend money on what is important to us. Second, a lumberjack must stop cutting the tree occasionally to sharpen his ax. And third, none of us knows as much as we think we do nor as much as we need to know.

There is one other excuse that some leaders use – “I don’t know where to start.” The obvious response would be to start at the beginning. But let’s rephrase that to say, “Start where you are.” Since most of those reading this article are church leaders in a church relating to Denton Baptist Association, consider starting here.

Denton Baptist Association is partnering with others to provide two leadership events during August. The first is the Leadership Summit on August 7th and 8th. This two day satellite event is produced by the Willow Creek Association and is co-hosted by First Baptist Church, Lewisville, and our association. This annual event is a motivational and inspirational look at leadership. While the initial emphasis is on the church, there are many values to be gleaned for the corporate and professional worlds also.

Second, we are partnering with RockPointe Church, Flower Mound, for the Igniting Change workshop led by corporate trainer Blake Leath. Igniting Change is a practical, how to workshop. On August 21st at RockPointe, leaders will be equipped to lead their congregations through any type of change process.

I want to encourage all church leaders to utilize these two events as a launching point for regular leadership development and training within their lives. No one else can take these steps for you. We are each one responsible for preparing ourselves to be the leader God has called us to be. Let the words of the child, “No, I do it!” become your adult words as a leader, “I will accept the responsibility of continuing to equip myself to become a more effective leader!”