Status, Stature and Substance

from Ps Edmund Chan's book of MENTORING PARADIGM-3

Following up on the previous chapter, it is the Substance of a leader that ultimately defines the leader.

Sometimes we comment :"He has the status of leadership but not the stature of a leader." Even so, it is the substance of a leader that ultimately defines the leader.

Status - Refers to the leadership titles or positions that we hold.
Stature - Comprises two aspects of our leadership - our credibility and confidence
Substance - Most importantly it is our substance that God views us and matters most to HIM.

In our performance driven society, people are only interested in our status - the titles and positions that they think represent us. As a result, we focus our efforts on striving for higher status. We often miss out on developing the stature which builds confidence and credibility. Surely, status without stature is hollow.

When we are people of substance, we live beyond mere status and stature. We cultivate an emotional stability and restedness, security and humility, which enable us to handle crises, criticisms and compliments well.

At the heart of our status, stature and substance lies our sense of security. But true inner security, where we can be small yet secure, is the true expression of substance in leadership.

Ultimately, God is more interested in 'what we have become' rather than merely 'what we have accomplished for Him'. When we develop and grow in substance, the status and stature of leadership will be built on solid ground. We will then live with :-
Authenticity in our worship
Brokenness in our walk and
Courage in our work.

Personal thoughts - Reflecting back on one incident when my ex-boss says that he would like me to take a bigger role of leadership in one of our company's subsidiary. He further explained why he had chosen me to take up this challenge over the other manager. He said, "It is how you handled a crisis that I saw determined to give you this opportunity. Both of you (referring to myself and the other manager) faced crisis at the same time in your family. You have demonstrated strong coping skills and strength while the other manager, continued to wallow in self-pity and push the blame to everyone else instead of himself."

Indeed, it was an encouragement from him inregards to how we handle our crisis. I only have God to thank for, because it is through all these years of walking closely with HIM that HE has helped me to develop substance and depth within me. Though still not complete, but will continue to work deep within as a leader because I want to be a leader that has the substance and the stature.