The 7 C's of A High Impact Leader 

Being a high impact leader goes beyond just having power, money or position. A high impact leader has the ability to positively influence people to commitment…to action. Influence achieves goals, builds effective teams, resolves differences, and maximizes your objectives. As you review the basic 7 C’s of a high impact leader, where do you “C” yourself?

1.  Character

Robert Cook: “There is no substitute for character; you can buy brains, but you cannot buy character.” A great team – family – marriage – business – ministry must be built upon being a person of great character.  "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy."  Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf

2.  Communicate

Your ability to positively impact people is strongly dependent upon how well you clearly articulate the ministries vision/ goals, define your team’s tasks/responsibilities, effectively communicate what you expect your people to do or not to do. Lack of concise clear communication can lead to misunderstanding, confusion and ultimately conflict. Many times, people are only talking to each other but are not ‘communicating’ where all parties have a clear understanding. Effective communication results in true communication!

3.  Comprehension

Comprehension is very closely connected to communication. This is our ability and willingness to listen and learn. Most leaders are the driving ‘A’ personality that have strong opinions and are solution oriented resulting in not always listening to the wisdom of their people. Another element is carefully listening and evaluating what staff say about others – is it gossip, personal opinion or truth. It will help us not to jump to wrong conclusions but to effectively evaluate our response.  The more we understand what people are saying the greater impact we’ll have with them.

4.  Compassion

Genuine concern and compassion makes a huge difference on the people around us.  You will never have influence with people who believe you don't care about them. “People don’t care how much you know but how much you care.”

5.  Competence

When people begin to believe that you are capable, you begin to earn their respect.  That respect increases your influence.  Never stop learning…never stop improving…never stop growing in every aspect of your life!

6.  Confidence

People place almost as great value on confidence. Being able to project confidence is critical to influencing others especially tough times. However, be cautious not to project arrogance! Godly self-confidence energizes and gives people the courage to stretch to new tasks, take risks, and achieve more than they at first believed they could.

7.  Cheerleader

Cheer people on to greater achievements. Compliment your team for a job well done…build people up…encourage them….fire them up with enthusiasm! Look for the positive and good that people do! Remember, people like to be around cheerful, enthusiastic people.  Your sense of humor even in the tough times will help cheer people on during their tough times at work, in their relationships and in their family. This quality is irresistibly attractive to people.