A Leader is Creative

Imagine a world in which the leaders were really creative… What a blessing it would be!

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

The universe is ruled by a creative God. This world is ruled by creative people. To be able to think of something new and greater and to achieve it is creativity. An ordinary person wants to do what everyone else is doing. A leader is someone who is prepared to be creative and to chart new territories.

There are two groups of people in this world. One group have created new things. The other group have created nothing.

Remember, creative people dominate non-creative people.

You don’t have to look far to see this truth.

The creative rule the non-creative. So, be creative in your business! Be creative in your work! Be creative as a minister of the gospel! The fact that something has not been done before does not mean that it is wrong. You will dominate in your sphere of life if you are creative.

The ministry I oversee is made up of mainly lay people. I myself, started out in ministry as a layperson. When I did, people preached about me in their pulpits saying I was not concentrating on my studies. They had never seen the lay ministry in operation. They could only criticise. Today, this creative lay ministry has led to growth in my ministry. Decide to be a creative leader!

Seven Steps to Becoming a Creative Leader

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what to do

Realise that you may be in a non-creative environment. You may have to fight a spirit of non-creativity all your life.

2. Admire nature

Be interested in what God has created: animals, nature and the human body. As you become interested in things God has created, the spirit of creativity will be stirred up in you. Non-creative people are usually uninterested in nature.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood through WHAT HAS BEEN MADE…

Romans 1:20

3. Overcome the natural resistance to change

Most people do not like change. Be honest, and deal with every streak of non-creativity and the “anti-change” spirit in your life.

4. Be interested in the amazing creations of ordinary men.

Be interested in medicine, surgery, cars, planes, computers, etc. Non-creative people are usually not interested in such things. Acknowledge other people’s gifts.

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter…

Galatians 2:7

Can you acknowledge that God has given something to someone else? If you can, then you are a leader. A leader is someone who is able to acknowledge the special grace on another person’s life.

My library is made up of books of other ministers. I have the books of every pastor in my city. I acknowledge that God is using other people apart from me. I want to learn what they know. I privately and publicly acknowledge that they are doing great things for the Lord.

Years ago, I realised that there were many people I could not reach. Many people cannot relate to the way I preach. That is why God has raised up other ministers. There are also many people who could not relate to the way others preach. That is why they joined my church.

Peter acknowledged that the ministry to the Gentiles was clearly in the hands of the Apostle Paul. He acknowledged Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. Paul also acknowledged Peter’s ministry to the Jews. You must recognise what God recognises and honour what God honours. That is true leadership!

5. Be open to new and unusual ways of doing things 

Do not have a blackout attitude towards every new suggestion. I have often been laughed at when I have made new suggestions. In the end, it is these same suggestions that have been a blessing to many people. Creative people are often laughed at because of their ideas.

6. Be ready to embark on adventure. Adventure is the sister of creativity. 

7. Try introducing variations to already existing models. 

Variation is the brother of creativity. A creative leader is someone who is able to come up with new ideas.

New ideas often contain the solutions we need. Are you someone with new ideas?

We ought to continue to pray for our leaders to be endowed with the ability called ‘creativity’!

theaol@ymail.com

By Dag Heward-Mills