Have you ever seen that guy before a basketball game do the quick stretches? You know, the ones that make him “look cool” but really doesn’t help. I use to think, “I’m here to play not stretch! Let’s go!” I quickly learned that if I don’t stretch today, then I can’t move tomorrow.

We stretch to improve our flexibility. Increasing our flexibility allows us to increase the range of motion without causing damage.

As a leader in any organization you must consistently stretch yourself. Stretching yourself creates flexibility and demonstrates to God, and those around you, of your willingness to change for His greater vision. Being flexible says that you’re a team player and willing to get uncomfortable for the team to win. No organization can survive if its leaders, and those it hires, are not flexible to the vision God has placed in the heart of its primary leader. God’s plans are always challenging, scary, exciting, full of risks, and require you to be flexible. Inflexibility assumes your plans, vision, model, leadership style, and personal perception of ministry is 100% accurate, which is dangerous! It also produces a self-absorbed individual that is irrelevant to his/her culture, its needs, and the moving of the Holy Spirit. However, continually stretching yourself and being flexible increases your sensitivity toward the Holy Spirit, creates more ministry opportunities, and produces authentic followers of Christ that live to glorify God.

I was looking through some old notes today and found a page from the Tony Morgan coaching network I attend earlier this year. Here are a few ways to maintain personal growth in several areas of life.

1. Write down what God is teaching you. How you see Him working in your life and those around you.
2. Married couples should always go to bed together. It’s a healthy practice and great for communication, keeping your priorities in order, and intimacy.
3. Schedule a daily “no meeting” closed door time. This special time is great for prayer, devotion, or gaining clarity for the day.
4. Continually strive to learn new concepts and be open to new culture and changes.
5. Be open to criticism but also be confident in your boundaries, passions, and calling.
6. Know your personal, professional, and organizational weakness and be open to growth in your most difficult areas.
7. Give tasks away and trust people to do a great job. You must first trust a person before you actually know if you can trust them.

So those are a few notes I ran across today. I hope they will help you grow as they continue to help me! Tony has great insights posted on his blog check him out at www.TonyMorganLive.com.