Fathering Leaders Nurture Hearts

Motivating with a father’s heart involves nurturing. It’s in the nature of a father to nurture. Whether a leader is a parent, business owner, missionary, or pastor — they have the responsibility of nurturing the hearts of the people in their care in order to see them blossom forth. If you think of someone’s heart as a living organism, nourishment is needed. Nutrients, water, and sunlight are all vital lest it shrivel up. Also crucially needed for survival is protection from disease and harmful influences.

But understand there’s a learning curve for leaders who seek to nurture. When you’re motivating with a father’s heart you seek to develop and grow your people. But knowing how to show affection and encouragement in an authentic and genuine way is something that sometimes has to be learned. And there are times a leader must use correction and discipline to keep his people productive.

Herein lies the dilemma:

How do you minister correction and discipline without compromising a person’s sense of being loved and valued?

Motivation and Discipline

Let’s observe the father-child relationship for a moment for an example to follow. Children growing up need guidance from their parents to learn to love God, do well in school, respect authority, and contribute to community.

Along this same line, church members need guidance from their leaders to learn to serve and give out to their local congregation as well as to the Body of Christ as a whole. And employees need leadership who will pull out their gifts and talents as well as teach them skills. This is where a father’s heart will see potential in their people. They see the value the person has to offer, yet realize it may need some “pruning” to help it grow.

So how do you motivate and discipline without shutting down the heart of the other person?

3 Keys for Love-Based Discipline

1. Love always has to be first. Friends first — ministry/business second. A person has to know they’re loved and accepted before they will receive correction from you. Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship breed rebellion.” When someone knows you really love them and care for them, it’s not difficult to motivate them. Relationship comes first, not rules.
2. Remember discipline and correction should focus on the person’s behavior and not on their identity. Judgment is not a component of discipline. Negative words usually produce negative behavior. Positive words usually produce positive behavior.
3. Maintain an environment of access and dialogue with them. When your people feel free to come to you and openly discuss their challenges, growth will occur. A fathering leader is looking to build productive people.

Fathering Leaders that walk in these skills of motivation and discipline are well advanced in their leadership development. They display a graciousness towards others on their journey of maturation. These leaders will change lives, raise children and spiritual sons and daughters that are emotionally healthy and successful both inside and outside of the church. And all of us as Christians — whether official leaders or not — can use these keys to express the heart of the Father to everyone we meet.

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Related Posts

• Sermon Outline For Fathering Leaders
• Motivating With A Father’s Heart
• A Case for One-on-One Discipleship
• How to Create An Atmosphere For Life-Changing Growth
• The Primary Fathering Leadership Life Skill

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