What makes a good leader? I have worked in retail environments, in direct sales, as a teacher in secondary education, in corrections, as a preacher working with elders in two churches, and for twenty-four years as a military chaplain. In those diverse experiences, I worked with many leaders with a variety of leadership styles. In some of my roles, I myself had a leadership role. Because I wanted to lead well, I watched leaders whom I regarded as "good" closely. When they mentioned books that had helped them develop as a leader, those books appeared soon after on my to-read list. When they mentioned goals or necessities for leaders, I listened. One military commander said that his goal was to leave each place where he served in a better condition than he found it. Others made it a priority to run or work out regularly with their subordinates. I observed one commander's strong defense of a junior leader who was criticized by a higher-ranking officer from a higher headquarters. He knew that the attack was unjustified and firmly explained why to the complaining leader, who also outranked him. A senior chaplain sought out challenging assignments, deployments, or schools for the chaplains and other soldiers whom he supervised. These leaders helped me construct a picture in my mind of how I wanted to leader. Other leaders demonstrated practices or behaviors that I promised to myself that I would avoid. The "good" leaders and several helpful books and classes on leadership molded me into the leader that I became. The Bible contributed both healthy and unhealthy leadership models. Some biblical passages addressed effective leadership directly. In the remainder of this post, I will discuss some qualities and practices that I believe are key to being a good leader.
A leader must have a vision of where he wants to lead his organization and his people. My goals in my final military assignment included specific ways in which my department could advance the mission of the larger organization and included targeted training events for the chaplains and religious affairs specialists whom I supervised that would enhance their skills as religious leaders while hopefully helping them to mature as men and women serving God.
Earlier I mentioned a leader who defended a junior leader. His action required courage. Good leaders lead with conviction. They defend the unjustly accused. They initiate difficult courses of action when those plans will accomplish positive objectives, even when others question or rebuke them. The biblical book of Numbers tells in chapters 13 and 14 of Joshua and Caleb, who proposed and defended an aggressive course of action even when their peers opposed them and crowds threatened to attack them. Good leaders lead with courage.
Good leaders lead with humility. They learn from their mistakes and are aware of their weaknesses. They listen. Among the disciples of Jesus, Peter made some glaring mistakes, but again and again he demonstrated later that he had learned from his errors. He was present when:
"Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:25-28).
Decades later, Peter would write to advise church elders. He had learned from Jesus how to lead. He wrote,
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2-3).
Good leaders are resilient. They persevere when others tire and give up. When they encounter unexpected or painful obstacles, they remember that "things change" and adapt. Jesus, the apostle Paul and the prophet Elijah were among several biblical leaders who kept focused even when under attack and kept pressing on towards their objectives. Paul wrote in one of his letters,
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that you labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Good leaders delegate wisely. Foolish leaders try to do it all themselves or only rely on people who know less than they do. Moses's father-in-law observed him trying to take care of all the complaints of a nation alone. He instructed his son-in-law to appoint wise leaders to help him in the great majority of cases. Jesus trained his disciples by teaching them, then sending them out on missions that would prepare them for the tasks they would encounter after he no longer walked among them. Paul wrote to his protege Timothy,
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2).
Good leaders know when to call for fire (ask for help). They pray. Moses prayed prayers that praised God, that pleaded with God on behalf of others, and that reminded God of his promises. Nehemiah prayed repeatedly for guidance and for affirmation that he was leading well. Hezekiah, Jeremiah and Jesus prayed emotionally, but faithfully, when facing death. Paul, after mentoring leaders in Acts 20:27-36, knelt down with them and prayed.
Good leaders lead with vision, with courage, with humility, and with resilience. They delegate wisely. They pray and know when they themselves need to ask for help. They listen to God, their own leaders, and those whom they serve.
- Quotations are from the New International Version of the Bible.
A prayer from Hebrews 13:20-21:
"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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