As you mature from childhood to adulthood, you need encouragement all along the way. It helps you to overcome criticism. It builds a basic level of self-confidence. Self-esteem, motivation, effort, validation of your ideas—all of these come in part from encouragement. Life and work are filled with challenges, setbacks, and failures. When you give and receive encouragement, it helps to put these things into perspective, to manage disappointment, and to celebrate accomplishment when it does come. Encouragement strengthens an individual emotionally, allowing them to look ahead and move forward—to reach toward their next goal.
When someone encourages you, it helps you to know that you are on the right track, to maintain a positive attitude, adhere to an ethical standard and be productive in your work. Encouragement can be a helpful guide to you, giving reinforcement to those areas where you are doing your best, and when you don’t hear any, revealing areas where you may need to improve. Encouragement can help one do the things they may not ordinarily do.
Faithful leaders are encouraging. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” As we go through life and build relationships, we are to be encouraging. Think about the people you enjoying being around, spending leisure time with, or even time at work. They are likely among the most encouraging people in your life. We naturally desire to be uplifted and encouraged, and to be around people who are positive, optimistic, cheerful, inspirational and motivational. Encouragers urge us to do our best, and are advocates and supporters in our endeavors.
God Himself is encouraging to us. He gives us positive words throughout Scripture to help keep us motivated and headed in the right direction. In Joshua 1:9 He says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” And in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” And in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Isn’t it good to know that God is thinking of our best, and encourages us to stick with Him so that He can bless us and direct us as He has promised?
Encouragement is a skill. Even if your personality leans to the pessimist, you can learn how to be encouraging. First consider your speech. What you say matters, as well as the manner in which you say it. Ephesians 4:29 instructs, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” This is a clear command from God to think before you speak. Consider how to put your words into a positive framework. If you are angry, distracted, disapproving or negative, consider not talking in public, but managing specific criticism or controversy in private.
Another biblical instruction is found in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” As a leader you can “stir others up to good works”. This is both by instruction and example. Encourage your team to help each other and be for each other’s success. Look for ways you can serve your team members in a meaningful way.
As a leader, you’re not over a what, but a who. To lead is to influence others in a way that helps them grow personally, professionally and spiritually. Leadership is fundamentally about influencing people.