Over the years of being the Pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church I have read many books on leadership, I have gone to dozens of seminars on leadership, I have listened to literally 100’s of hours of podcasts on leadership by some of the best leaders in the world, I have been personally mentored by some very good leaders, and I have made more mistakes in leadership than most leaders, and I have tried to learn from those mistakes.

Over the years of making mistakes, getting counsel, reading books and listening to the best leaders in the world on podcasts, I have taken good notes. As I learn, I have written out my own personal book of Proverbs on Leadership, and I call it , “Dee Duke’s Leadership Axioms.”

A few of those axioms;

– The Achilles heal of all leaders is pride. Pride alienates me from those I am leading, and I will quickly lose the blessing of God because of pride.

– Pride is subtle and tricky, it sneaks into my thinking and attitude before I am aware of it, if I am not super diligent to keep guard over my heart and motives.

– Never boss people around and tell them what to do, instead appeal to their conscience.

– Every time I have a conflict with another person take the blame, be the one who is wrong. If I humble myself God will exalt me, but if I exalt myself God will humble me.

– Never say “no.” Don’t be a control freak, Jesus will protect and lead His church.

– in the midst of problems, pressures, and disunity always keep asking, “what will make Jesus happy?”

– God blesses unity not methods.

– When people in the church volunteer, anything they do, no matter how small, is gravy, so praise and appreciate it.

– At least a dozen times a day ask God for wisdom and strength, He gives it to those who ask a lot.

– With people who are leading a ministry or starting to lead a ministry, give them all the advice and training they want, but don’t tell them what to do. It is super easy to start right and only counsel and help, and then to move to being in charge.

– Remember the goal of ministry is to train and motivate people to do the work of the ministry, not to do the work of the ministry.

– People follow a happy and positive leader.

– Success is a good and Biblical word, the problem is when I don’t come up with a definition of success that is Biblical.

– I have to learn how to lead myself well before I can lead others.

– The most powerful tool that I have for self leadership are my personal goals.

I have many other axioms on how to be a “God blessed leader”, join my leadership class if you want the rest.