I have never met a leader who wants to be a “One-Hit Wonder!”  No leader wants to burn out the same day they succeed. Leadership is about leaving a legacy which will inspire others to excel.

In an older USA Today article about the former Super Bowl Champions head coach Mike Holmgren, his Hall of Fame record is discussed:

• 170-111 overall record in 17 years of coaching
• 15 times he finished first or second in his division
• Molded quarterbacks Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre, Matt Hasselback
• Coached two different teams (Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks) to the Super Bowl and had three Super Bowl appearances overall
• 1996 Super Bowl Champion with the Packers

USA Today writer Jon Saraceno’s article on Coach Holmgren (and Brian Dodd’s blog) gives us several characteristics of leaders that can withstand the journey and the years of being out front leading others.

1. Leaders that last have stable leadership – Constant change of leadership, ideas, methodology, and contemporization of thought can leave people exhausted and questioning a leaders direction and intent.
2. Leaders that last understand that failure is never final – There will be days of great failure in our lives – days that we ready to quit. Great leaders reach from deep within and press forward against all odds.
3. Leaders that last are decisive – Football requires quick decisive choices, right or wrong. Paralysis by analysis stalls forward motion. The question for churches is to ask, “Is God on our side?” If yes, then act!
4. Leaders that last understand their limitations – Focus on your strengths and hire to your weaknesses. We are not superman – capable of ridiculous feats. Stephen Covey stated; “Keep the main thing, the main thing!”
5. Leaders that last acquire talent – What is your five year growth goals? Who do you need on the team? Bobb Beihl of Masterplanning International stated regularly that we over-estimate what we can accomplish in twelve months and under estimate what we can accomplish in five years. Remember that no leader can lead past their own thinking habits!
6. Leaders that last know how to leverage their influence – This starts by loving people more than your own self love! You have to invest in others in a genuine way in order to have influence to leverage in the first place. The old idiom is true; People do not care how much know until they know how much you care!
7. Leaders who last are devoted to their family – Your family is job #1. No career goals, business, or church development plan trumps your family. End of discussion!

If these seven characteristics are part of your life and daily habit, then you will perhaps become a leader that will last!

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