Dare Great Things For Christ

DGT Episode 101 - The Leader's True Goal - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 12

In business as in life, success is largely a function of focus.  Knowing what our priorities are allows us to hit them correctly allows us to be successful.  What’s the proper focus for leadership?  What is it supposed to be all about?  Aquinas’ De Regno, offers us an amazing lesson in leadership, allowing us to see that the true end goal of leadership is in the ultimate perfection of those that we lead.

 

DGT Episode 100- The Downside Of Being A Tyrant - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas - Part 11

We all know the temptation to glory, power, and fame.  We all know the power of its allure and how desirable it seems to be.  So what’s the downside?  If in fact we don’t live as soldiers of Christ and followers of the King of Kings but become tyrants ourselves, benefitting ourselves at the expense of our flock, what’s the downside?  What could possible go wrong?  Listen in to my commentary on chapters 10 and 11 of Thomas Aquinas’ De Regno.

DGT Episode 99 - A Leader's Glory And Pain - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas - Part 10

Choosing to lead is choosing a kind of solitude, a way of life that few people understand.  Leadership has its own crosses and its own blessings, and its own rewards.  St. Thomas Aquinas in his book, De Regno, in chapter 10, lays out for us the uncommon rewards for the uncommon sacrifices that a leader has to endure for the sake of God. 

DGT Episode 98 - A Leader's Reward - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas - Part 9

For all the effort that goes into leadership what shall be our reward?  Afterall considering all the things that we sacrifice and do in order to make great things happen, what does God have laid up for us who have labored so hard for Him?  Is it earthly glory?  Is it power and prestige?  What should it be?  St. Thomas Aquinas offers us an amazing insight in his letter, De Regno.

DGT Episode 97 - Leaders For Others, Servants For God - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas - Part 8

In Chapter 9 of De Regno, Thomas Aquinas makes a startling discovery.  He speaks about the reward that God is offering for the leader.  And he ends by saying that the reward of the leader is to have God himself.  This strikes me as important for us to understand the true nature of happiness – the true reason of why we are doing what we are doing.

DGT Episode 96 - The Leader's Glory - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas - Part 7

Without a doubt our life as leaders can propose challenges.  And yet, what is its reward?  What are we in this for after all?  And as a Christian leader, what is it proper to be in it for?  What is the proper reward for a follower of Christ who takes upon himself or herself the mantle of leadership?  Is it right to look for anything at all?  What does our Lord teach us about leadership and its rewards?

DGT Episode 95 - Overturning Tyranny - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 6

Everybody is tempted sometimes to question the value of leading by virtue.  Afterall, wouldn’t we make more money, be more profitable, find power quicker by mitigating our leadership into a life of power seeking or pleasure seeking?  Sometimes it seems like people who don’t follow God’s law even flourish the quicker.  Thomas Aquinas gives us a different perspective and underlines the essential importance that virtue plays in leadership.

DGT Episode 94 - The Inversion Of Tyranny - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 5

When I first began these leadership lessons on De Regno by Aquinas, I never anticipated finding some of the greatest jewels about leadership in the chapter on tyranny.  But in fact, that is just what happened.  Sometimes you see most clearly what a thing is by looking at it’s opposite.  And Aquinas shows us most clearly what good Christian leadership looks like by looking at it’s opposition - tyranny.

DGT Episode 93 - Knowing The Goal Of Leadership - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 4

In today’s world it can be very confusing to figure out exactly what it is we’re supposed to do as leaders.  Many people will have many opinions.  Leaders bringing concord, leaders charging from the front, leaders supporting all with compassion.  St. Thomas Aquinas actually has a very clear vision for leaders.  He calls it unity.  But what exactly does he mean?

DGT Episode 92 - Leaders And Shepherds - Leadership Lessons From Aquinas Part 3

We all know that leaders have authority and that that authority has an impact on those that they lead.  But the question is, “How does that leader make that authority felt with strength while at the same time effectively build up the people that are under him with gentleness?”  In his work, De Regno, written to the King of Cyprus, St. Thomas Aquinas offers a valuable lesson on this subject.