Leadership Capacity By Brian HoustonSample

Capacity for Risk

Your leadership capacity is dependent upon your “risk quotient”. It has often been said that FAITH is spelled R-I-S-K. Maybe the whole idea of taking a risk makes you cringe. But if you stop for a moment and think about it, to some extent, everyone takes risks every day. When you drive your car, you risk an accident. When you use your credit card, you risk the potential for fraudulent activity. When you share an idea, you risk rejection. But not all risks are created equal! Blindly entering a situation without investigation or consideration of possible consequences, is taking a foolish risk. On the other hand, a measured risk is informed and discusses possible outcomes, weighing up whether the risk is worth taking against the potential reward. A measured risk is not foolhardy or impulsive.

For example, borrowing money for a house requires meeting certain lending criteria to minimise the financial institution’s risk that you won’t be able to make your payments, against the profit it stands to make in interest. That is a measured or calculated risk; not only by the bank, but also by you. 

To function best at your job and achieve your potential in God’s plan, you must ‘step out of the boat’ and take some form of risk; living strictly within a job profile will not develop your potential. It’s important to understand that you will have to take some risks to increase your capacity.

Your long-term future can look exciting but what about the risks and decisions you must make to get there? Do you have the capacity to make the decisions and take the risks? We will readily receive a promise or word from God, but what about the process required to see them come to pass? The promise of a newly engaged couple’s future is filled with excitement and dreams, but to see this happen requires some commitment and courage. And very often, the process looks nothing like the destination.

It’s usually easier not to take a risk, but at what cost? Without the ability or willingness to take risks your capacity will not grow and your life will stagnate at the cost of your potential.  If you are looking for reasons to not take risks, you will always find them. There will always be someone to blame or rationale to support your avoidance. We all value safety but the will of God never comes without an element of risk and is often counterintuitive – not illogical but ‘extra-logical’ or higher than logic. Remember though, it’s not about foolish or impulsive risks, but after careful evaluation, those you believe God is leading you to take toward your goals. 

Increasing your capacity to handle stress and risk will open up a tremendously exciting journey into all that awaits you in the plans and purposes of God.

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. – Ephesians 2:10 AMPC

PRAYER:

Lord, I pray that my life will be rooted and grounded in Your all-encompassing love; that I will trust You through all my life’s journey. So then, I will have the power and the capacity to fulfil Your highest plans and purposes in me and for me. In Jesus Name.