Here are the top 7 things I am learning about leadership right now :
#7. Leaders are learners.
All great leaders are growing leaders. When the leader grows the team grows. I heard someone once say a great leader is like a running stream of water that is always moving, fresh, and picking up things along the way. I’m definitely guilty of being more like a stagnant pond sometimes – relying on past experiences and old knowledge to carry me through. But when I am inquisitive and “listening” before “listing,” this is a sign of humility and spiritual hunger that others will want to follow.
#6. Leaders are lovers.
The goal of a great leader is to increase the potential of those who follow. The truth is people grow when they are loved. And when someone feels loved, they feel safe. They aren’t looking over their shoulder and seeing someone breathe down their neck. They aren’t walking on eggshells and playing not to lose. Great leaders create engagement, not compliance. Since followers know where they stand with their leader, they can play to win and their potential shoots through the roof. When a leader cares more about who people are than what they can do, trust is created and performance is improved.
#5. Leaders are trailblazers.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” A great leader isn’t afraid of failure. They may have bumps and bruises and scars and scrapes, but those aren’t signs of losing. I will trust a leader who has a limp more than one who has a strut – and you can tell the difference. Great leaders have grit, and they aren’t afraid to rock the boat, challenge the status quo, or step into the unknown. They believe in the destination with such passion that the journey to get there is worth the challenge.
#4. Leaders are fighters.
A great leader is one who fights for his followers. What are a leader’s most important assets? His followers. I try to ask these questions to my team:
- How is your work affecting your soul?
- Do you need a break?
- Are you being utilized to the best of your abilities?
- How can I help you have greater impact?
Great leaders recognize the value of their followers and are willing to fight for their spiritual, emotional, physical, and professional health. When a captain fights for his soldiers, the soldiers will fight for their captain.
#3. Leaders are counselors.
When Lyndsay and I experienced all those miscarriages, we had two kinds of doctors. One had a clipboard, checked the boxes, and was all business. The other kind sat down next to us, looked us in the eye, and said “I’m so sorry for your loss.” This doctor embodied maybe the most important leadership characteristic: empathy. Great leaders may be busy, but they are never in such a hurry where projects are prioritized over people. They seek to listen, understand, and feel how others are feeling. The more leaders know the felt needs of their people, the more effectively they can lead them.
#2. Leaders are painters.
A couple weeks ago my daughter showed me a picture she painted. I asked, “What is it?” I could tell she was a little offended I didn’t recognize our family portrait. Since then, I’ve learned to instead say, “Tell me more about it.” Great leaders paint clear pictures of the future for their followers. It’s not a good sign if people wonder, “What is it?” Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” Great leaders instill wonder and awe in their followers and help them engage in a bigger story that goes beyond the daily tasks. Great leaders find 10 different ways every week to remind followers of where they are going and what “it” is…
#1. Leaders are servants.
Like Jesus, great leaders look “not to be served, but to serve and give their lives away for many” (Mark 10:45). There’s a reason why Jesus started a revolution and changed the world. It’s not because He was forceful or powerful or charismatic or smart or cunning. It’s because He led people by serving them. This flies in the face of our cultural norm, doesn’t it? When He could have wielded His power and led people with force, He restrained His power and led people with love. What may appear weak is actually strength! Great leaders serve.