8 Actions of a Confident Leader in the Face of Conflict
Balancing conflict is inevitable.
Most of the time, I find that I am either coming out of conflict, in the midst of it, or heading back into the storm of a new one. Conflict has the power to derail focus, upset strategy, and erode confidence. Every day a leader has the opportunity to move past the obstacles of life with confidence.
When I think about people in the Bible who had confidence in the midst of conflict- Joseph always comes to mind. From Genesis 37-41 we watch Joseph ride a conflict roller-coaster. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongfully accused of raping his boss’s wife, thrown into prison, and forgotten by someone who could have helped him. When the time comes for him to be brought before Pharaoh, instead of seeing it as an opportunity to prove himself or a moment to escape his circumstances, he stands in confidence. When asked by Pharaoh if he could interpret dreams, Joseph’s response is: “I can’t, but God can.” Joseph found confidence in God’s abilities, not his own. He realized that God was orchestrating all his circumstances, which included conflict.
In the face of conflict a confident leader:
- responds in faith
- accuses no one
- accepts his/her circumstances
- is patient with others
- doesn’t complain
- is not afraid of the outcome
- has focus
- embraces unknown seasons because he/she knows who makes the seasons in the first place
It’s not what I know, but who I know that helps me move from conflict to confidence.
In the midst of circumstances full of conflict, there is a prime opportunity to take our eyes off the immediate trouble surrounding us and place them on the one in whom we can have full confidence. In John 16:33, Jesus says,
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, because I have overcome the world!”
Conflict should always accompany confidence, because we have the help of the one who knows the end of the story.
Take a next step, or as I like to call a test drive, and discover what confidence looks like in the eyes of those closest to you.
Email two close friends and ask them two questions.
It’s important that these people are close because you are going to ask them for feedback into your life. If they don’t really know you then this exercise won’t create the impact that you’re looking for. This email is meant to sharpen you in your own personal leadership journey. Once you determine who those people will be, I want you to ask them two questions.
Download this email template with instructions and content. Simply copy, paste, and send as a test drive.
Tags: Chris Rivers, Confidence, Conflict
