Building Credibility

One of the biggest challenges young leaders have is establishing their credibility.  They want to be respected, listened to and followed but sometimes they hurt themselves by making foolish decisions, demonstrating a lack of discipline or failing to follow through on commitments. If you want influence you must have credibility and if you want credibility you must be a person of character. I started thinking about what I look for in a young leader that enables them to earn credibility in my eyes. My thoughts went immediately to Joshua.  What was it about Joshua that enabled him to earn credibility with Moses?A passionate hunger for God – Exodus 33:7-11When Moses would go to the Tent of Meeting to meet with God, Joshua would go along and stay long after Moses left.  Exodus 33:11 “When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”A faith-driven willingness to take risk – Numbers 14When Moses sent Joshua with eleven others to spy out the promise land only he and Caleb had the faith to say conquering a powerful enemy was a possibility.  In Numbers 14:7-8 Joshua said, "If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us.”A proven competence to lead – Exodus 17:8-16When Amalek came to fight Israel Moses delegated the leadership of that battle to Joshua. Joshua proved his leadership ability in this battle. Exodus 17:13  "Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword."A High Degree of Integrity – Numbers 32Joshua and Caleb were the only two from their generation to enter the promise land because “they followed the Lord fully.”  Numbers 32:11-12.A Healthy sense of Inadequacy- Joshua 1 After being chosen as Moses successor God spoke to Joshua encouraging him and telling him not to be afraid.   Joshua 1:8 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”What do you need to do to increase your level of credibility with your followers?