J. Robert Clinton, in his helpful writings on Finishing Well as a spiritual leader, observes that one of the dangers leaders face that keep them from finishing well is that of Spiritual Plateaus.
These are times in a leader’s life when he or she stops growing spiritually and just “coasts.” A spiritually plateaued leader often is able to fulfill his or her job responsibilities and “keep the program going”
From the outside, everything may appear normal. But inside, the leader is no longer growing. He or she needs a time of spiritual renewal; of meeting God in a fresh way. If this does not happen, that leader will not “finish well,” warns Dr. Clinton.
The following list, from Neil Cole’s book Organic Leadership (pg 22-25), can help us recognize some of the signs of this problem. A spiritually plateaued leader…
- Avoids relationships of personal accountability
- Rarely applies the truths of God’s Word to himself personally
- Has replaced his joy, peace, and love with envy and resentment
- Frequently looks for greener pastures in other places
- Finds faults in others more often than in self
- Is burned out with busyness that has been substituted for simply intimacy with Christ
- Compromises on ethical principles once held dear
- Stays within safe areas of expertise rather than new learning endeavors
- Is unable to acknowledge the wisdom of others
- Has reduced the Christian life to a routine
(Here’s the link this was taken from)
