FEBRUARY 16 • TRUE LEADERSHIP • EPISODE 47
Insight & Intuition 
…if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3-5
What are you really, really, really good at? I’ve been studying and practicing leadership for a long time (and jazz saxophone, too). The first half of that time was learning how not to lead (because I was doing it badly). I’ve talked to thousands of people on leadership. I’ve heard story after story after story. I’ve read at least a hundred books on the topic and probably a lot more, plus articles, blogs, and videos. I’ve coached, counseled, mentored, and written about leadership principles for 15-20 years. It now comes naturally to me how to deal with almost any leadership situation. Because of all the time spent in learning and practicing leadership (probably 20-30,000 hours), I have built insight and intuition. We all have insight with things we have spent many thousands of hours doing — whether we realize it or not. Things become second nature. We may not think specifically about it but if asked a question about the area of our insight, we have much we can share.
Why bring it up? A couple reasons. Don’t sell yourself short in an area you have spent thousands of hours doing. You are probably a greater asset than you realize. As well, don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to (Romans 12:3). If you’ve invested significantly in an area, you are well worth listening to. Be willing to share with those around you (mentor some your folks in your sphere — more on mentorship later).
Look for ways you can use that insight to help guide those in need — your organization, your family, friends, leaders — even yourself. We are made in God’s image — we are not God, but we are gifted by him in different ways for helping and growing the body. Know your gifting and use it to bless others. When our learning turns into insight we can answer from the gut and be correct much of the time. Just make sure to test it against what is true and temper your insight with truth. And love. Then one day it will be refined insight and can be trusted (1 John 4:1).
Pray: Lord, give me wisdom, insight, and intuition to help all those in my circle. Help me be a 360 degree leader in all directions.
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