Know Yourself

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to help your brother.” Matthew 7:5

If you want to be a leader, this is the first obstacle you must overcome: the temptation to focus on the failures and shortcomings of others while ignoring your own weaknesses. Only a fool will follow a leader who lives by the creed: “Do as I say and not as I do.” Every leader must set the standard through personal practice.

A genuine leader never has to tell others what they should be doing – he demonstrates it in his own life so others can see what they must do. Never ask or expect something of others that you have not already applied to yourself.

There is only person you should be concerned about improving – the person in the mirror. Stop evaluating the skill and performance of your teammates. Don’t even think about questioning the attitude of another until your personal character is in full check.

Telling others what they should be doing before you learn to do it yourself is the perfect recipe for division. If you care about your team, shut-up and set the standard.

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5(NASB)