What Does Leadership Look Like?
There is a big push in many social, political, and business circles promoting the idea of leadership and qualities related to leadership. This list of qualities is long; here are just a few of the more common ones:
Vision: Leaders have a clear vision and a sense of purpose, providing direction and settling goals for themselves and their teams.
Integrity: Leaders maintain a high level of integrity and ehical standards. They are honest trustworthy in their actions.
Confidence: Confidence inspires trust and can motivate others. Leaders are typically self-assured but not arrogant.
Decision-Making: Leaders make sound decisions, often bases on a combination of data, experience, and intuition.
Accountability: They take responsibility for their actions and are accountable for the outcomes of their decisions.
Innovation: They encourage creativity and innovation, seeking new and better ways to achieve goals.
Problem-Solving: They have strong problem-solving skills and can find solutions to complex issues.
Risk-Taking: Effective leaders are willing to take calculated risks and are not afraid to step out of their comfort zones.
Inspiration: Leaders inspire and create enthusiasm, instilling a sense of purpose and dedication in their followers.
Ethical Leadership: They demonstrate ethical behavior and adhere to moral and legal principles.
Team Building: Leaders can build and nurture high-performing teams, promoting collaboration and synergy.
As impressive as this list appears, authentic Christian leadership takes all these qualities but aligns with Christian principles and values. Christian leadership focuses on servant leadership, moral integrity, humility, and the well-being of the people being led. Here are some additional key aspects of authentic Christian leadership:
Servant Leadership: Authentic Christian leaders prioritize serving others rather than seeking power or control. They emulate the example of Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples, showing that leadership is about humility and serving others.
Moral Integrity: Christian leaders are expected to adhere to strong moral and ethical values. They are honest, trustworthy, and are guided by the principles of love, compassion, and forgiveness.
Prayer and Faith: Authentic Christian leaders rely on prayer and faith in their decision-making process. They seek God’s guidance and wisdom in making choices and addressing challenges.
Biblical Principles: They base their leadership on the teachings of the Bible, which often include principles like love for one’s neighbor, forgiveness, and justice.
Compassion and Empathy: Christian leaders show genuine care and concerns for the well-being of those they lead. They are compassionate and empathetic, supporting and helping individuals in their personal and spiritual growth.
Humility: They practice humility and don’t seek personal glory or recognition. Instead, they give credit to others and acknowledge their dependence on God.
Community and Unity: They aim to build a sense of community and unity among those they lead. They work towards resolving conflicts and fostering harmony within the group.
Stewardship: Authentic Christian leaders see their leadership role as a form of stewardship, recognizing that they are entrusted with resources, people, and responsibilities by God. They are accountable for how they manage those assets.
Transparency and Accountability: They are open and transparent in their actions and decisions, and they accept accountability for their leadership.
Empowerment: They empower and equip their followers, helping them grow and develop their skills, talents, and faith.
Purpose-Driven Leadership: Their leadership is guided by a clear sense of purpose that is in alignment with their Christian faith. They seek to fulfill God’s purposes through their leadership.
These qualities are equally impressive, yet this list also falls short.
THE most important quality of a Christian leader is…LOVE. As scripture says in 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV), Let all that you do be done in love. There are many fabulous leaders who have many admirable leadership qualities. They are fine examples to follow. Yet, like many other messages in society, the Christian perspective flips everything upside down. As we “strive” in life, we are all able to lead others. Consider the nature of your leadership including who provided us with the perfect example, Jesus!
Submitted by: Jude Sullivan
