Leadership is more than holding a position or wearing a title, it is the weight of responsibility that comes with influencing lives, shaping outcomes, and stewarding destinies. For women in leadership, this responsibility runs even deeper because of the nurturing, guiding, and protective nature that often flows from us. One of the greatest
responsibilities of leadership is foresight: the ability to see ahead and provide timely counsel and direction.
Scripture provides a sobering reminder of this in Ezekiel 33:1–9, where God sets the prophet as a watchman over Israel. The task was clear: when danger approached, the watchman had to sound the alarm. If the people ignored the warning, their blood was on their own hands. But if the watchman failed to warn them, their destruction was not only their loss, it was also counted against the watchman.
As female leaders (in business, ministry, career, or family) we are called to that same standard of responsibility.
Seeing Beyond the Now and Equipping Others to Thrive
A true leader does not merely react to what is happening; she anticipates what may happen and prepares her people for it. This foresight allows you to guide those who follow you away from danger and toward opportunities. It may look like warning your team about potential risks in a project, advising your mentees against harmful decisions, or equipping your community with knowledge that prevents failure. When you see what others cannot and speak up, you give them the chance to thrive. But when you stay silent, their ignorance becomes your accountability. Leadership is not passive or reactive, it is proactive.
Guidance is more than pointing out the problem; it’s offering direction toward a solution. As leaders, we must go beyond simply identifying dangers to providing practical steps, wisdom, and strategy that our followers can apply. Your counsel may not always be easy to hear, but it can be the very thing that shifts someone’s outcome.
Yet, here lies a critical truth: the responsibility of action rests with the one who receives the instruction. If they ignore your counsel, the results, whether success or failure belong to them. You would have fulfilled your duty as a leader by speaking the truth in love.
Your willingness to guide and warn others is what shapes your influence and legacy. Leadership is not measured by how many people follow you blindly but by how many grow, thrive, and succeed because of your insight and instruction. To refuse to warn or guide is to neglect the very essence of leadership.
As a female leader, you are a watchwoman in your sphere of influence. Your foresight and voice matter. Do not shrink back from warning, instructing, and guiding those who look up to you. Speak with courage, lead with wisdom, and provide the clarity that can change outcomes for generations.
Remember, your silence can cost others their lives, and your guidance can transform them.
Reflection:
Who in your circle needs your counsel, foresight, or warning today? Don’t hold back, your voice may be the key to their breakthrough.