A good leader is usually also a thinker

It is our prayer that thinking about their jobs would be the priority of all leaders. Every good doctor must be able to diagnose the problem of his patient. Making a diagnosis is eighty per cent of the solution. Your job as a leader is to think about the problem, listen to the story, examine the situation and come up with an analysis of what is going on.

When you do not think about the work you are doing, you often cannot do it well. You must be consumed with your work, and you must think about it all the time. Anyone who does not think about his work will not do well. As someone said, 'You will only be remembered for your obsession.' I notice that some of my employees hardly think of the jobs they do. Their minds are not on it. They are not obsessed, and it shows.

Six Advantages of Being a Leader Who Thinks about His Work 1. A great thinker always comes up with solutions to intractable problems. 'So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.' Ecclesiastes 4:1

2. A leader who thinks about his work constantly comes up with improvement.

'Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this, a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.' Ecclesiastes 4:4

3. A leader who thinks a lot about his work will hear the Spirit of God whispering direction.

'Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.' Proverbs 24:32

4. A leader who thinks will be open to brilliant and life-changing ideas.

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: Then said I, 'wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.' Ecclesiastes 9:13,16

5. A leader who thinks a lot will come up with new goals and visions.

'I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.' Ecclesiastes 1:16

6. A leader who thinks a lot will receive wisdom. 'And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.' Ecclesiastes 1:13

Three Keys to Becoming a Great Thinker 1. Wait on God. 2. Read books which expand your imagination and frontiers of knowledge.

3. Think more deeply about whatever you see or hear. Allow your mind to consider issues when they come up. Do not just take things at the surface level. Solomon thought deeply about what he saw. Read what he said: I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. Ecclesiastes 3:10

'There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.' Ecclesiastes 5:13

'Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.' Ecclesiastes 2:11

I have often had to think about the state of affairs of my church. I am constantly analysing what is going on. Therefore, I am constantly taking decisions.

Once, I was having a discussion with one of the construction workers I was working with. I told him, 'I am the most important person you need to talk to about this project.' I continued, 'I think about this project more than the architects do.'

A good leader analyses his work and its related problems all the time. Perhaps the reason why you are ineffective as a leader is that your heart and your mind are not constantly on your assignment. King Solomon analysed the problem of poverty around him. He concluded (diagnosis) that much of the problem was caused by lack of hard work. He figured out that if he could deal with sleep and folding of arms there would be more prosperity.

'Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.' Proverbs 24:32-34

Certainly it makes a whole lot of difference if a leader spends a lot of time ruminating about his work! May you be a leader who is a thinker!