As leaders we are all prone to make mistakes from time to time. It happens and can be expected. We are only human after all. I love the quote, “Even the best of men are at best, men.” That applies to us all. As men we will drop the ball, we will mess up, and we will let people down.

In the words of Homer Simpson..."Doh!"

But what I want to talk about today has nothing to do with any of that. As a matter of fact when most leaders make these two huge mistakes we usually have no idea until we are looking back. Remember it’s impossible to connect the dots looking forward but we can always connect them looking back. We also usually make these mistakes in the midst of thinking we are doing the right thing.

What am I talking about? The two biggest mistakes many leaders make are staying too long in a position or leaving a position too early. It happens all of the time. I think for many leaders God has been preparing them and now calling them for that next season in their life and they keep ignoring the signs.

Why do we stay? Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of change, sense of obligation, sense of loyalty, the list could go on and on. For others it’s the opposite. God is telling you to stay and you bail. Maybe you see a better opportunity somewhere else, someone offended you, you feel under appreciated, you think you could do things better, who knows. The point is God wants you where you are and you decide otherwise. So how do we know when to stay and when to go?

Abide in Him, seek His will, and check our motives. This is the time for honesty and transparency. Be real with yourself and answer this question-why am I staying or why do I want to go? What is God telling me to do?