I sat in the bleachers overlooking the Clover Leaf race track and watched a pace car take the lead as race cars circled the banked turns. It was fascinating to watch the speed of the lead car accelerate and finally the green start flag dropped and the race was on. The pace car dropped out and I was intrigued as I watched the pace car leave the track to the mighty roar of the finely tuned engines in the race cars that followed. This got me to think about the concept of pace and pace setting leadership. Pace setters are the visionaries that set the pace for the organization and the entire industry or ministry. They look for better and faster ways to accomplish great things. Pace setters focus on painting the bigger picture and inspiring others to buy into it. Usually they are innovative leaders. These people often shake things up and the option of stagnation is fought on every front. A pace setter does not settle for the status quo when things are not working, but instead looks for new ideas and options to correct whatever is not working or may be working too slow. They are willing to try new options until something corrects the stagnation. The pace setter is committed to explore endless possibilities and solutions. The biggest advantage of this leadership style is that the leader will seek to continually improve and create (Usually at breakneck speed). The negative side of this is “the push” and the endless prodding and striving. This can lead to burnout of followers. A great pacesetting leader knows how to push and when to pull back. The leader must not destroy morale or suffocate creativity. A leader's “job” is to protect the climate and environment of the organization and/or ministry. Always remember you, the leader ,are responsible for the environment in your business or ministry. The pacesetter leader should also realize everyone who is following does not have the same motivations. It is the responsibility of the leader to mine these various motivations and identify the followers needs and wants, all while being the pace setter and moving the organization or ministry onto new vistas. A pacesetting leader encourages and inspires those who are a part of the organization. The servant's heart will balance the leadership style of a pacesetter. Be an influencer; continue to move toward the vision God has laid on your heart. God has provided a wonderful gift; the gift of imagination and creativity. He gives us the opportunity to be encouragers or discouragers. May I encourage you to Study God’s Word and see how God views servant leadership and then get on track and be the “pace car” of your organization / ministry. God has a bbexcellentadventure.com for each of us.