Leadership

Personal Life of a Leader

The personal life of a leader is crucially important for character to be evident. Character is not easily attained but should be sought after daily to build a healthy foundation for leadership. A wise leader is continually connected to Christ in their heart and mind. People are looking for a leader who will set an example by living an authentic lifestyle for God. Luke 2:52 - Jesus was developing by surrounding Himself with leaders who would challenge his life. Jesus reveals his desire to grow in wisdom, favor and stature. He wanted to find truth and not settle for the status quo. Listening is a key trait for a leader to learn at a young age in order to soak up wisdom and understanding throughout their life.

Daniel 1:3-20 - Daniel set an example by making the best choices when it came to personal health and his lifestyle. Daniel revealed God's wisdom through focusing his life on obeying God. Daniel's life exemplified character and integrity. Daniel made small decisions that eventually paved the way for God to present a major platform for His glory to be shown to multitudes.

Psalm 78:72 - The heart of a leader must maintain a steady focus upon God's Spirit to lead. A leader who is " upright" looks at situations with the mind and heart of God. A godly leader will guide people by helping them grow in their understanding of God's Will for their life. Leaders are to develop people into devoted followers of Christ. David wrote many Psalms about following God in all areas of life.

Acts 6:3-4, 9-10 - Stephen was a great example of a spirit-led leader. He was in tune with following God through any situation, even his own martyr death before Saul and the Pharisees. When God has control of an individual's life, there is a marked different and power in their life. A spirit-led leader is one that does not find power in man's approval, but in God's approval.

Matthew 7:15-27 - The true nature of a leader will eventually come out when they are pressed. A leader that is grounded in God's Word will not be shaken when crisis or confrontation occurs. Wisdom and character must be the bedrock of leadership for it to last and flourish.

Luke 6:40 - The need for mentoring is key for a leader to develop. Every leader needs someone to look up to and emulate. Mentoring begins with a trusting relationship between two people. Leaders should continually mentor and be mentored so that they maintain humility and accountability.

Integrity in Leadership

Leader influence and motivate people to grow. Many people have spent their lives studying leadership and how to define it. In today’s culture, integrity is a dying characteristic of leadership. In order for leadership to be healthy, the foundation of it must be trust and integrity. Basically, if the walk does not match the talk, a leader will crumble. A focused and effective leader will have people following their direction.[1] Integrity is important because people desire to follow someone who is honest. Leaders come in all shapes and sizes but those that have personal integrity will thrive for a lifetime. Integrity stands for “the state of being complete, unified.” The words of a leader must reflect the deeds of a leader.  Leadership is a full and complete lifestyle and not just a performance in front of people at certain times. Integrity calls out for a person to have truth at the core of their attitude, actions and choices.

Integrity builds a person from the inside out. Leadership is influencing people to be moved along towards growth. If a leader lacks in character, many followers will be lost. John Maxwell states the seven reasons that integrity is most important in leadership.

Integrity Builds Trust

Leaders are the authors of trust in the hearts and lives of people. The foundation and strength of relationships between a leader and his followers must be honesty. Leaders must lead more upon their relationship than using their position for leverage. If people trust a leader, they will follow due to their innate need for relationship. Spending time getting to know people builds a leader’s position in healthy way versus using the title as the main use of the leader’s authority.

Integrity Has High Influence Value

A leader that lives the same no matter the personnel or location will influence many people. People will eventually take on the personality, habits and attitudes of leadership. Leaders that maintain an attitude of humility and character will see their followers become mature and healthy in their own lives and families. The only way a leader can maintain integrity is to be accountable to other leaders. It must begin with a close, intimate walk with God and with other people who live for integrity.

Integrity Facilitates High Standards

Leadership that focuses upon being the same person all the time will develop strong leaders. Integrity helps leaders maintain decisions so as to not compromise on core issues. An organization or church that displays integrity in leadership will attract and keep people with high standards. Compromising is not an option for a leader with integrity, no matter what price tag is available. Leading with integrity will produce a life that is above expectations and will result in success.

Integrity Results in a Solid Reputation, Not Just an Image

A leader that builds their reputation is one that is patient. In order to build a solid and trusting reputation, a leader must do the small tasks first. Holding true to promises, showing up on time, returning phone calls and much more are small ways to build a solid reputation that will stand the test of time.[2] Leadership is not given but it is earned. The reputation of a leader can be falsely communicated, but a person with integrity will eventually be safe because their lives are defined by truth. People usually see a leader on a pedestal, but integrity is simply the defining core of a person.

Integrity Means Living It Myself Before Leading Others

Leaders must learn to lead themselves effectively before they can influence others. Making wise choices in a leader’s everyday life will result in a pattern of integrity.[3] Leaders must be self-reflective in their own words. Perfection is not attainable but a life of honesty builds a leader’s integrity. If a leader teaches on time management, his life must also reflect a wise use of time. Living out integrity is following through with what has been expected of the followers with excellence.

Integrity Helps a Leader Be Credible, Not Just Clever

Credibility is a key result of a leader growing into a lifestyle of integrity. Gimmicks and looks cannot adequately build credibility in a leader’s life. Leadership is weak if it is focused upon charisma, attraction, personality, and showmanship. All of these characteristics are good but without a healthy view of truth and humility, leaders will crumble under the weight of their decisions. Being smooth and convincing can lead to devastation if a leader does not build truth into the core of their lifestyle.

Integrity is a Hard Won Achievement

Through adequate time, discipline, and accountability, a leader can become famous for a life of integrity. The most important aspect of any leader is how they finish. Leaders will make mistakes but it is how they respond to those mistakes that will reveal character. Honesty, trust, and integrity are integral parts of the making of a Christ-like leader. If a leader continually makes decisions based upon conviction, integrity will form into the framework of the organization or church. Consistency is central to the makings of a lifelong leader that impacts and influences people for Christ.

Integrity is needed in today’s culture in order to revive God’s plan for leadership. No longer can Christian leaders be focused upon moving up in the ranks as the only model of success. The key question should be, “How did they get to the stage of leadership they have accomplished?” Leaders must exemplify ethics and honesty in their daily relationships, tasks, and actions. Integrity will continue to be the most important ingredient of leadership throughout time. Healthy leaders must continually be vigilant to be honest in their daily lives in order to achieve God’s plan for leadership.

Towns, Elmer. Biblical Models of Leadership. Liberty University, 2007

[1] “Once you define leadership as the ability to get followers, you work backward from that point of reference to figure out how to lead.” Developing the Leader within You, 1

[2] “a good leader is not the person who does things right, but the person who finds the right things to do.” Biblical Models of Leadership, 23.

[3] “A person of integrity is one who has established a system of values against which all of life is judged.” Biblical Models of Leadership, 53.

Servant Leadership

Leadership is a verb rather than a noun. An effective leader will set an example of a servant’s heart to their followers. Servant leaders model a heart after Christ in meeting people at their point of need. Jesus is the embodiment of servant leadership. His life revealed the everyday calling to display a passion for people to know the hope of the gospel. Jesus came as the embodiment of the gracious work of God to forgive mankind of sin. Jesus chose and poured His wisdom into the disciples, not based upon perfection but their willingness to serve.[1] Jesus revealed his servant’s heart by choosing men that were smelly fishermen and tax collectors and led them to be world changers for the gospel. One of Jesus’ most powerful moments with the disciples was when he washed their feet after eating.[2] The disciples were finished eating and Jesus took off his garment and took a towel and began to wash their feet. Jesus was willing to go against custom and humble himself to serve the disciples. The disciples walked in open sandals all day, in the dirt streets along with animals. Jesus’ washing their feet is a representation of his mission in coming to earth. Jesus was equal with God, all things were His, and He still humbled himself. He laid aside the majesty of Heaven and took the form of a servant by symbolizing to the disciples what He would accomplish on the cross. Jesus was leading by example through revealing His willingness to serve regardless of what was considered normal.

In order to lead with a servant’s heart, a leader must focus upon serving people and putting their needs as priority. Jesus displayed humility, love to the disciples, signifying the importance of spiritual washing, and setting an example to follow. Jesus washing the disciples feet set the stage for His ultimate proof of love on the cross. The disciples were his closest companions throughout his life and ministry. Jesus portrayed the greatest example of humility and unconditional love by even washing Judas’ feet, the one who would ultimately betray him.

Leaders must stay consistently connected to Christ on a daily basis. Service is at the heart of Christ-like leadership. Jesus came to give regardless of the return He would receive. Jesus’ example is a daily decision to see people as more important than the task at hand and show grace in word and deed. Leadership must be motivated by meeting the spiritual needs of the people that need Christ. Jesus’ love moved his life to display compassion to everyone. Leaders must be consistent in their attention to the specific needs of the people. Jesus led His followers by continuing to show grace even when the disciples made numerous mistakes during their journey.

Servant leadership invites relationship to people that are in need of the hope that comes in Christ. A leader that is guided by service looks at ministry as a mission rather than a job. Servant leaders have a team mentality rather than viewing themselves as the final authority on all decisions. God’s plan is to meet the needs of people physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Jesus was willing to take a risk socially and physically to fulfill the atoning work on the cross for mankind’s sin. Jesus’ display of redemption was most readily seen in His conversation with the repentant thief on the cross.[3] His love for those that did not give in return reveals the heart of God.

The needs of people must always be the focal point of leadership. In order to display Jesus’ example of service, leaders must stay focused upon reaching people with the unchanging word of God. Relationship with people leads to strength and consistent growth in a ministry. Jesus modeled a focus upon the mission of redeeming mankind. Leadership today is in need of staying consistent to reaching and loving the lost by living out a servant’s heart in the church and community. Lastly, leaders who develop authentic relationships with their followers will see results of the servant’s heart of Christ throughout their ministry.

[1] “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35

[2] John 13:1-17

[4] “And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:42-43