Leadership Tips & Training Second Helping Leadership

When I was trained to lead aerobic classes, I learned to over-emphasize all movements. We were told that the students would always do less than the leader; therefore, if we did all the steps with great enthusiasm and energy, then the students would repeat them in a relatively calm manner. I have observed this in exercise classes that I have not taught. I watched the leader and then looked around the classroom. I noticed that when the leader was over-emphasizing every step, then the students seemed to show a good amount of energy. Then, when the leader slowed down, the students basically came to a standstill. Everything rises and falls on leadership - even in an aerobics class!

This same principle can be applied to your First Place class. As a First Place leader, we introduce the Nine Commitments and encourage our members to attend class and encourage the other members weekly, pray, read, study and memorize the scriptures daily, faithfully follow the food plan, fill out the CR daily and exercise 3 - 5 days a week. To encourage members to follow these commitments, the leader must be enthusiastically following them. A leader must go the second mile in following the commitments. This will mean sacrifice and discipline on the part of the leader. Just as it takes little or no discipline to fill your plate with a second helping on Thanksgiving Day, it will take a great deal of effort and discipline on the leader's part to remain not only faithful to the commitments, but also very positive about following them. If the leader's commitment falters, the member's commitment will soon follow suit.   A leader must have a second helping of discipline and commitment if the members are to remain motivated. I am not saying that the success of the member is totally dependent on the leader's discipline! However, the very definition of leader is "a person who leads . . . directs . . . has commanding authority or influence." As a person who leads and directs people, a leader must show a command of whatever they are leading. 

As the holidays are approaching, opportunities for second helpings abound. Why not be a leader who sets the pace by asking God to provide for you a second helping of the fruit of the Spirit:

• This month make a point to show more love to your members by calling them and praying over the phone for them. 
• Choose to be joyful, even when the circumstances tell you otherwise, and share this with your class. 
• Show kindness to your members by serving them. Take a discouraged member to lunch, or offer to watch a member's child while she goes grocery shopping. 
• Ask your members to evaluate your CR and have them weigh you in each week.
• Organize an exercise group that will meet before or after your First Place class.  

As you see your member tempted or overcome by the temptations, you will need a second helping of God's grace and mercy. Show God's grace when your members fall to the temptation to fill their plates and lives with second helpings. Call on God and He will provide all you need to go the second mile as a leader, and He will give you the second helpings of His grace, mercy and love. 

Psalm 57:2 -3
I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.

Lead on!

Nancy Taylor
Leadership Training Director



Nancy Taylor is the First Place Leadership Training Director and joined the First Place staff in 1997. Nancy teaches leadership principles to First Place Leaders throughout the country and at Houston's First Baptist Church where she coordinates all the First Place groups. Nancy also speaks at First Place workshops, rallies, retreats, and conferences, where she delights her audiences with humor and encourages them with boldness. She writes a monthly article, which includes helpful tips for leaders, for the First Place E-newsletter, and was a contributing writer to the Today is the First Day devotional book. Nancy is the resident First Place Bible Concordance because of her love for Scripture memory.