HOW TO GAIN RESPECT

I recently went to our campus Barnes and Noble bookstore and came across "The 21 Most Powerful Minutes In A Leader's Day" by John Maxwell. In this book he takes leadership principles from the bible a puts them into action. This book is organized around the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. As John Maxwell states, "When leaders have influence, people begin to follow them. When leaders have respect, people keep following them." In regards to the Law of Respect he draws from the leadership of Debroah, you can read her story here http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges%204:1-24;5:1-9,31&version=NASB


Here's how to gain respect:

Take a look at the process a leader goes through. I outlined it based on the word R-E-SP-E-C-T.

RESPECT YOURSELF AND THOSE YOU WORK WITH
Gaining the respect of others always begins with having respect for yourself. It's clear that Deborah was a person of respect. People from all of israel came to her to settle their disputes. And when she summoned Barak, he came to her, and she made him commander of an army, showing that she was quick to empower others in the area of their gifts. If you desire to win the respect the gifts of others, first demonstrate a healthy respect for them and for yourself.

EXCEED THE EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS
Few people would have expected Deborah to change the way the Israelites lived, yet that's what she did. She raised the standard of living for the common person and returned the nation to peace. Scripture notes, Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel (Judges 5:7). Leaders who ear the respect of other always exceed their expectations. They go the extra mile, they fight to achieve victory, and they take others with them.

STAND FIRM ON YOUR CONVICTIONS
Imagine what it must have taken for Deborah, a woman from the southern part of the nation, to call Barak, a powerful man from one of the northern tribes, into her presence and command him to fight the Canaanite army to the north. That took a tremendous amount of courage, which comes from conviction.
When Barak revealed his doubts ab out the campaign and asked Deborah to accompany him, she didn't back down or waver in her belief that God had called them to fight their enemies. She agreed to go, and she told him that the glory he would have received for the battle would instead go to a woman.
Followers respect a leader who demonstrates conviction. The greatest leaders possess the vision to reach their destination, and they believe they will get there. Andy they act on that conviction. Followers can sense that, and it is one of the reasons they are willing to join with a leader and take the journey.

POSSES UNCOMMON SECURITY AND MATURITY
Though Scripture says the land had rest for forty years, we don't really know how old Deborah was or how long she served as Israel's judge, but we do know that she didn't try to take the credit for Israel's victory. Deborah sang, "My heart is with the rulers of Israel who offered themselves willingly with the people" (Judges 5:9). Then she recounted all the people who participated in the victory, even mentioning the command of Barak, despite her admonition to him that a woman, Jael, would have the honor of killing the Canaanite general, Sisera.
Leaders whom the people respect don't grab all the credit of a victory for themselves. They give as much as they can to the people. And doing that requires maturity and security.

EXPERIENCE PERSONAL SUCCESS
Leaders cannot help people experience success unless they have been successful. Deborah was already a success (as a prophetes and a judge) before she asked the people to fight.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS
When she did call the people to battle, Deborah did it right. She gave them a commander. She gave them the resources they needed, ten thousand men. And she gave them the word of the Lord that they would win. And they did. Under her guidance, "the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan" Judges 4:24.

THINK AHEAD OF OTHERS
Just as Nehemiah did, Deborah practiced the Law of Navigation. She gave Barak the battle plan, telling him how to attack. She supplied him with troops. She accompanied him to Mount Tabor, where the battel would be fought. She even told him when to engage in battle. The result was overwhelming victory. How coudl the people not respect a leader of such strategy and vision?
Weak leaders believe that their position or title deserves respect. Strong leaders know that they must earn it. Deborah understood that, gained the respect of her people, and stands out as one of the most remarkable leaders recorded in the Bible.