LEADERSHIP CAPSULE
... equipping leaders with tools, skills, and weapon to provide effective leadership for nations to ultimately fulfill the Great Commission

Friday, January 20, 2016

TITLE : THE POWER OF CONSISTENCY 3

You might have heard the saying: If you are persistent, you will get it. If you are consistent, you will keep it. One of the traits that we must cultivate is consistency. Everyone wants consistency, whether it regards running a business, investing, sports, supervising employees, dieting, exercising or parenting. Consistency develops routines and builds momentum. It forms habits that become almost second nature. For example, think about one of your goals. It requires consistent effort to push toward that goal. If you are not consistently focused on achieving it, you will likely fall back into old habits or lose interest. Being consistent is the difference between failure and success.

Leadership guru John Maxwell said "Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time." We'll never realize the power of consistency if we don't first see the dangers of inconsistency in our lives.

How would you define Inconsistency?

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines it as - "not persistent, lacking firmness of constitution or character, and lacking harmony of conduct and practice with profession."

Do you have friends who only seem to come around when it is convenient for them? People who come to church when they feel like? It takes consistency to be punctual. Ever thought someone close to you would always be there when you're in need, but when push comes to shove, they're nowhere? Inconsistency is a terrible attribute that far too many of us nowadays possess. It isn't easy to be consistent but that's what leadership is all about. Trust is, in one way or another, built upon the foundation of consistency. If you can't count on someone to always be there for you because their behaviors are inconsistent, you learn you cannot always trust them. Being inconsistent means you're not trustworthy, dependable, usable or reliable.

Consistency is especially important in business. Restaurants or eateries, for example, must be consistent, because customers come in expecting the same good food all the time. If they slip up even one day, they lose customers. That's the danger of inconsistency!! Consistency establishes reputations. In any business, customers expect the same standards. The last thing people want is to be surprised -- they want predictability. Consistency means predictable, constant, firm, steadfast. Let's face it -- we live in an unpredictable world. When people get what they want, they are happy and will return. Managers and leaders must be consistent in their behavior and attitude.

Consistency builds great trust between leaders and those they lead : the knowledge that what is said is meant and what is meant is lived out while Inconsistency breeds mistrust while consistency breeds trust. That's why trust is built upon the foundation of consistency. lack of consistent direction plagues many ministries. When leaders change their minds on directional issues on a regular basis there is inconsistency. When a stated direction or conviction is easily changed or violated, there is inconsistency. When people are allowed to violate stated commitments there is inconsistency. Inconsistency confuses people - breeds cynicism.

#Don't be resistant to being consistent.#

Seed : Trust is built on the foundation of consistency.