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Using Jesus as their “Timeless Model,” Briner and Pritchard provide 75 lessons for us as leaders:
- A CALL TO LEADERSHIP
A voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; take delight in You!” Mark 1:11
God has a call for Christians’ entire lives, including careers. While it is certainly worthwhile to seek advice from others, ultimately a calling is between you and God. Never let someone else determine God’s will for your life. No one else can understand God’s unique call on your life as clearly as you can.
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LEADERS CALL FOLLOWERS
Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!” Mark 1:17
The difference between management and leadership is chiefly in the way those being managed or led are motivated. Follow the example of Jesus and ask people to join you. People want to be asked and feel needed. Even when they say no—and some will—they will feel good about themselves and about you, simply because you asked. Jesus’ example in recruiting effective followers suggests that we cast the widest possible net. Consider everyone on his or her merit. Accept talent, character, and commitment wherever you find it. Do your best to look beyond the surface of family background, social status, degrees, and the patina of appearance.
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LEADERS TEACH WITH AUTHORITY
They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority. Mark 1:22
Leaders are always teachers. To be an effective long-range leader, you must teach with authority. You must be prepared. You must know what you are talking about. Remember, Jesus prepared for more than thirty years. Be prepared. But as important as it is to know what you’re talking about, it is perhaps even more important to be what you’re talking about.
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LEADERS TAKE CARE OF THEIR PEOPLE
He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them. Mark 1:31
Serve your followers and their families. By removing obstacles to their focus, you enable your followers to concentrate on their given tasks. As strange as it may seem, the surest way for a leader to succeed is to put others first, including the families of those he leads.
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LEADERSHIP REQUIRES DISCIPLINE
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. Mark 1:35
Jesus disciplined himself in the wise use of time; He was up and at ’em early. More importantly, however, He disciplined himself to a time of prayer and solitude—prerequisites for Christians who want to succeed in any kind of leadership position. Great leaders, from Abraham Lincoln to Winston Churchill to Thomas Edison, followed Jesus’ example of setting aside quiet times alone.
Prayer and solitude do not cut into a leader’s time or lessen his or her effectiveness; rather, they add to and multiply that effectiveness.
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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5
A leader knows how to turn the unexpected into advances for his cause. No other leader, no matter how brilliant, will have the supernatural ability of Jesus to know what those around him are thinking. But a leader must have the ability to evaluate a situation on the spot, to get a feel for what is taking place, and to make the situation work for good.
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CHOOSING A TEAM
He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him. Mark 2:14
Jesus certainly went against conventional wisdom, looking far beneath the surface of Matthew’s unpopular profession as a tax collector to teach us an important leadership lesson: a wise leader builds his or her team very carefully. Choices are made not on appearance and appeal but on deeply, prayerfully considered values. One of the selection criteria, for example, should be considering who will most appreciate being chosen. A leader should consider diversity when building his team—all kinds of diversity, particularly diversity of talent, temperament, and experience.
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EATING WITH THE TROOPS
While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house … Mark 2:15
Memos, manuals, and seminars are useful instructional tools, but they can never replace the quiet lunch or dinner as a means of teaching, learning, and growing together.
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TRADITIONS
He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27
A leader has respect for traditions, but he has a greater respect for people. Wise leaders—especially those in established companies—must use the past but not be shackled by it. Tradition can sometimes become a chain if it keeps us from doing what needs to be done. A good manager makes the existing system work to his or her advantage; a good leader questions the system, making the changes necessary for improvement.
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THE INNER CORE
Jesus departed with His disciples to the sea, and a great multitude followed. Mark 3:7
Here’s one of the most important and vital leadership lessons of Jesus: a very special, close relationship with a small group of followers is an absolute essential for the effective leader. A leader who imparts special insight and inspiration to a select few will have tremendous long-range results, because those select few will continue to implement the leadership objectives in which they have come to believe.
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LEADERS PLAN
He told His disciples to have a small boat ready for Him, so the crowd would not crush Him. Mark 3:9
In even the seemingly small things—from the colt that was made ready for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the upper room that was made ready for the Last Supper—Jesus made things happen by planning.
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STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL
He would strongly warn them not to make Him known. Mark 3:12
A wise leader picks his or her spots, retreating when necessary to accomplish the most good. Leadership often requires “taking one’s lumps” and “biding one’s time.” Jesus demonstrated this leadership lesson for us so often and so brilliantly that it is one we should never forget.
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THE PLACE
He went up the mountain and summoned those He wanted, and they came to Him. Mark 3:13
An effective leader chooses the most appropriate place for his or her important occasions. It is no accident that Jesus chose a mountainside as the setting for His life-changing, history-making call to the twelve men who were to turn the world upside-down—a memorable place for a most memorable occasion.
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THE STUFF OF LEADERSHIP
He also appointed twelve … to be with Him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14–15
Leaders should attempt to replicate themselves, pulling followers along who can increasingly act on their own to advance the cause. Visionaries anticipate the time when they will not be around, a time when followers must become leaders themselves if the cause is to go forward. The cliché about being lonely at the top represents a leadership failure. The very best leaders are not lonely because they have developed an intimacy with a close group of followers.
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PAINFUL ATTACKS
When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.” Mark 3:21
Leadership at the highest level almost always demands such a compelling vision that even those closest to us may question our wisdom, even our sanity.
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LEADERS TELL STORIES
He summoned them and spoke to them in parables. Mark 3:23
Jesus both established and perfected the use of parables as a leadership methodology. Just think of the heroes He created who continue to inspire us—the good Samaritan, the good and faithful servant, the wise virgins, the poor widow, and others. As a leader, you need to teach through relevant stories that create heroes, build legends, and help establish the kind of culture that inspires your followers to excellence. Make others the heroes of your stories, not yourself. Build them up through your stories.
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THE UNITY REQUIREMENT
If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark 3:25
Unity is essential. Don’t be afraid to eliminate the source of disunity from your enterprise. It’s your responsibility as a leader.
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LEADERS ARE OFTEN UNAPPRECIATED
They were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:30
Jesus showed us that even when we work exclusively for the welfare of others, some may say we are evil. In the instance Mark describes, the Pharisees deliberately twisted the words and deeds of Jesus to make him appear evil.
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YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME
Some seed fell along the path. … Still others fell on good ground. Mark 4:4, 8
Leaders must believe that if they sow good seed, some will fall on good soil. Some will produce good things. Even though they may not see good results immediately or even in their lifetime, Jesus teaches us that good seed will produce good fruit.
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TRUTH AND TIMING
When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables. Mark 4:10
Leaders may need to reserve some truth for those in an inner circle. A leader’s inner circle is defined by how much of the truth is shared with each prospective member. In the case of Jesus, He spoke to the multitudes and taught His disciples, but He reserved the most compelling truth for Peter, James, and John. A leader errs when he or she tells too much too soon to those not ready for it. A leader also errs by failing to assemble a small group who knows the very heartbeat of the vision and message. A wise leader will think carefully and pray earnestly about what, when, and how to release information.
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GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS
Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Mark 4:21
Jesus wants the world to know who we are, who we truly are. A leader will understand this and make every effort to ensure that this happens by first ensuring that his followers know who he is and what he’s about. Jesus did this by often questioning his disciples about Himself and His mission to be sure that their understanding constantly increased.
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EVALUATE
By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you. Mark 4:24
Few things are more damaging to morale and to bottom-line results than failure of leadership to properly evaluate employees. Jesus repeatedly taught that it is not how much we have that counts, but what we do with what we have.
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A LEADER IS FAITHFUL
He sleeps and rises—night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. Mark 4:27
We need to be faithful to our followers by articulating a clear, consistent message that states understandable goals and faithfully rewards those who help us reach our goals. Leaders are called to faithfulness more than they are called to success.
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LITTLE THINGS, IMPORTANT THINGS
It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground. Mark 4:31
When Tom Peters wrote about “management by walking around” in his classic In Search of Excellence, his writing was based on this understanding. Leaders need to be aware of the effect they have on those they lead. Successful leaders, from great football coaches to great generals, understand this and make their “little” contacts really count. In the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30–32), Jesus teaches leaders that big things can grow from small beginnings. The most important faith any of us can have is in our Lord, who promises that even the tiniest faith can cause great things to happen. Faith is an important component of successful leadership. A wise leader will build faith in those he leads by giving individuals greater and greater responsibility and latitude as they demonstrate greater and greater capability and understanding. The mustard seed principle works in this regard.
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LEADERSHIP CALMS THE STORM
He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40
A leader must be the calm in the storm. Many of the disciples who were caught in the storm with Jesus (Mark 4:35–40) were seasoned fishermen who had been in this situation many times before. Yet they panicked. Just as Jesus calmed both the physical storm and the storms in the hearts of his followers, leadership today requires the same kind of effort. We need to speak words of reassurance in a calming tone, addressing the problem in a deliberate, measured, effective way. Calm, effective leadership in the midst of a storm will do more to establish a leader than most any situation.
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PUBLICITY
He went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. Mark 5:20
In the most basic sense, advertising is what you say about yourself; publicity is what others say about you.
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DECISIVE ACTION
So Jesus went with him. Mark 5:24
A quality leader acts decisively when the occasion calls for it—decisively, not impulsively.
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PRACTICAL VISION
He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and said that she should be given something to eat. Mark 5:43
The ideal leader combines vision with the kind of common sense that makes his vision a reality. Jesus was obviously this kind of leader. The wisest, most successful leaders analyze their strengths and weaknesses and act accordingly. If you are a big thinker with the ability to visualize, make sure you surround yourself with people blessed with practical talent. If your leadership style is more practical, be sure to assemble a “brain trust” to complete some of the long-range planning and dreaming. It is not necessary for you to have it all, only to have access to it all.
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THE BEST AND THE WORST
So they were offended by Him. Mark 6:3
Leadership brings out the best and the worst in people.
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LEADERSHIP TEAMS
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs. Mark 6:7
Jesus established the “two by two” modus operandi with His disciples, and as you might expect, it worked beautifully. Scripture records that the disciples’ success working in pairs brought joy to Jesus, and He praised His Father for the effectiveness of His men. In almost every endeavor, the “two by two” system is the method to use, particularly when sending young people into a new territory for the first time. They will learn and accomplish more together than they would individually.
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FACING A LOSS
The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. Mark 6:27
Think of how Jesus must have felt when John the Baptist was imprisoned and then executed in such a horrible way. Depending on the importance of the enterprise, are you willing to continue to lead, to move ahead and focus on the future of the mission, even in the face of the loss of a devoted follower?
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FACE TIME
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. Mark 6:30
A wise leader does not rely solely on notes and memos to communicate with those he leads. He makes certain to allow for time to “lead by walking around” (to use a Tom Peters phrase). He or she sees and is seen by those doing the work, and this is important so that team members can receive regular personal time from and easy access to their leader whenever necessary.
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LEADERSHIP RETREAT
He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while.” Mark 6:31
Every enterprise should have at least one yearly retreat to which the leader’s invitation should say, “Come away by yourselves.” A wise leader will always schedule time with followers that excludes outsiders. These are times of great importance and significance and should not be missed.
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UNPLANNED MOMENTS
As He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them. Mark 6:34
One of the tensions of leadership is finding the proper balance between adhering to a well-planned schedule and being flexible enough not to lose those spontaneous opportunities that cross our paths.
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BOLDNESS BUILDS LEADERSHIP
“You give them something to eat,” He responded. Mark 6:37
Jesus is the greatest and boldest of all leaders. His followers, particularly those in positions of leadership today, need to view boldness as the norm, not as an elusive, extraordinary leadership style. Again, boldness is not rashness or cockiness. Bold leadership, the kind Jesus practiced, dares great things with great faith to accomplish great good.
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ESTABLISHING ORDER
He instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. Mark 6:39
There is a vast difference between order and regimentation. Jesus didn’t tell the five thousand to sit down in groups, organized alphabetically by last name, to count off and remain silent until addressed. Instead, He created an order that was not ominous and restrictive but pleasant and liberating.
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LEADERS PRAY IN GRATITUDE
After He said good-bye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray. Mark 6:46
Prayer is as necessary after triumph as it is before difficulty. Our tendency is to pray when facing peril but to forget prayer after God has seen us through hard times. Time alone—time in prayer alone—is necessary for successful leadership. These times of prayer strengthen and sustain us—perhaps more than any other. David’s expression in Psalm 138:1–3 should be a pattern for leaders: “I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your constant love and faithfulness. You have exalted Your name and Your promise above everything else. On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.” This is a prayer for any leader—at home, church, or business. Be like both David and Jesus. Be grateful.
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DEFINING YOUR MISSION STATEMENT
Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men. Mark 7:8
It is so important to have a well thought-out, closely defined, easily understood mission statement. In a real sense, leaders of today have the same general mission statement. God’s will should be the overall mission statement of every leader. An effective leader understands his mission, is able to articulate it, and keeps both himself and his followers from getting diverted.
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THE POWER OF A REBUKE
He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding?” Mark 7:18
Wise leaders wait for the right moment, give a sharp rebuke, and then move on. Foolish leaders keep repeating their criticisms endlessly, which leads not to better performance but to resentment and discouragement. Timing is everything—both in giving compliments and criticisms. Jesus didn’t hesitate to challenge His followers when He felt they weren’t paying enough attention to what He was saying and doing. Note that the rebuke didn’t involve what they didn’t know, but rather what they should have known.
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THE STRATEGY OF SECRETS
He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He could not escape notice. Mark 7:24
A very basic—perhaps the most basic—tool of leadership is this: information. How, when, where, and to whom information is dispensed is the very substance of leadership. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.”
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STYLE, SUBSTANCE, AND SYMPATHY
He took him away from the crowd privately. Mark 7:33
A leader needs both style and substance, but it is important to never put style over substance. Both substance and style should advance the cause. Sometimes leaders must do things quickly and then move on. At other times they will stop, take their time, and by their actions and their words, demonstrate deep personal concern. There are no rules for when to do what—only the recognition that leadership demands different responses on different occasions.
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A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well!” Mark 7:37
When a leader is consistently late, doesn’t answer mail or return phone calls, or fails to say thanks, this is eventually reflected in the effectiveness of his or her leadership. Leaders who take care of the small things well in a small arena will most often have the opportunity to lead in a larger arena. Little things do mean a lot. Any of us could—with the power he provides—live a life of giving and, in a small way at least, have a Christlike impact.
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KNOW YOUR RESOURCES
“How many loaves do you have?” He asked them. “Seven,” they said. Mark 8:5
An effective leader knows the extent of his resources, and he is willing to ask the necessary questions in order to know. He doesn’t rely on guesswork. He gets the numbers from the ones who know.
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BEGINNING WITH GRATITUDE
Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke the loaves, and kept on giving them to His disciples. Mark 8:6
The resources of any leader are finite and often seem inadequate for the situation. Jesus who (of course) had infinite resources, teaches us in this passage that we are to be thankful for what we have and to use it in faith. Leaders are not to become paralyzed by the difficulty of circumstances. God blessed Jesus’ supply and effort. Today, He blesses those who take what they have, put it to work, and trust Him to make up whatever they lack.
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A FLOATING SEMINAR
They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. Mark 8:14
A wise leader will arrange times for formal teaching, but the most effective teaching often happens when an alert leader takes advantage of one of those exceptionally teachable moments that occur spontaneously. In the incident cited above, the disciples obviously had not done what they should have done. Jesus drew the lesson by moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar. Seeing the disciples’ one loaf of bread, He used “yeast” to illustrate the evil intentions of Herod and the Pharisees (Mark 8:15). Wise leaders find simple ways to alert their followers to the dangers they face.
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KNOWING WHAT’S NON-NEGOTIABLE
He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” Mark 8:15
Leadership, by definition, relates to the big picture. There are, however, some seemingly small things that, left unattended, will become big things and will prevent maximum good from occurring. In the verse above, Jesus was teaching about those kinds of things—the non-negotiables. The “yeast” of Herod and the Pharisees was a growing corruption and evil disposition that, while small at this point, would eventually spread throughout the land.
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FOCUSING ON FOCUS
Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? Mark 8:18
Just as the disciples focused on the relatively minor problem of having no bread, thereby demonstrated lack of faith—particularly in light of the great miracle they had just witnessed—followers today often become unfocused, forget past victories, and give in to fear and uncertainty. A leader must refocus, remind, and reassure.
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CALCULATE YOUR ACTIONS
He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Mark 8:23
It is interesting to note that Jesus sometimes did things in unexpected ways. Obviously, He could have healed the blind man on the spot, but sometimes it will be necessary to accomplish something “out of the village” to achieve maximum possible impact. At times, the easiest way to get something done may not always be the best way to get it done. Incidentally, note that Jesus instructed the man not to go back into town. This, of course, would be the first place he wanted to go. This suggests that the miracle was being done not so much for public consumption but for the benefit of the disciples. Wise leaders, like Jesus, will calculate their actions to produce the greatest good and to teach the most powerful lessons.
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Jesus went out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Mark 8:27
A quality leader often leads his troops into battle. He doesn’t always just send them. As you lead, be alert for those occasions when the cause is best served by your presence.
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THE DISCIPLES’ FINAL EXAM
“But you,” He asked them again, “who do you say that I am?” Mark 8:29
A continuing theme of John MacArthur, noted pastor and Bible teacher, is how easy it is for the church to become distracted and to lose sight of its mission. When a leader asks, “How am I doing?” (and this is a question that should be asked periodically), a trusted and trusting follower should be able and willing to give a truthful, unvarnished answer.
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PREPARING FOR THE HARD TIMES
Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things. Mark 8:31
Wise leaders understand that in every human endeavor of any scope or magnitude, there will be tough times. Difficulties will occur. The best leaders do all they can to prepare followers for these times of stress. There is a philosophy that says, “We will not even consider failure. We won’t allow it to happen.” That looks good as a slogan on a locker room wall, but it is not realistic in real life, in real human endeavors. No leader plans to fail, but many fail nonetheless.
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TOUGH LOVE
He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan, because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s!” Mark 8:33
The exclamation Mark included in the Scripture is there to show that this was a forceful pronouncement. And it was delivered in public. No one’s feelings were spared with this one. As mentioned before, a rebuke—even a stinging one—is a potent and valuable leadership device. Use a strong rebuke rarely.
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SPEAKING TO INSPIRE
If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. Mark 8:34
Jesus used public speaking as one of His primary leadership tools. He spoke to instruct—as in the Sermon on the Mount. Be a challenging, inspiring public speaker. It is a skill worth developing. Model your presentations after those of Jesus.
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CULTIVATING LOYALTY
Whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words … the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him. Mark 8:38
Loyalty, like unity (with which it is closely allied) is a leadership absolute, an imperative. It is something a leader should expect and on which he should be able to rely. Without loyalty, there really is no leader/follower relationship.
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WHY INTIMACY IS IMPORTANT
Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. Mark 9:2
More leadership has failed from a lack of intimacy than from any other cause. Leaders, no matter how brilliant, cut their tenures short or accomplish less than they might otherwise when they fail to establish close relationships with a few key people, a core of their followers. Leaders who fear intimacy will look for all kinds of excuses to avoid it. One of the most common, particularly in the church, is this: “I can’t be seen showing favoritism by getting too close to any one group of people. I must treat everyone the same.” This is not only nonsense; it is not scriptural. Leaders must develop a core group of followers in whom they confide and from whom they expect honest feedback and wholehearted support.
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LINGERING ON THE MOUNTAINTOP
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here!” Mark 9:5
There is always a time to work, and then there is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. First the cross, then the resurrection. This is always God’s pattern. That order can never be reversed.
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THE POWER OF OUTSIDE AFFIRMATIONS
A voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!” Mark 9:7
When a leader is asked to speak to an outside group, it’s important to take along at least one or two followers so they can see the esteem in which their leader is held by those outside the group. One of the most important reasons for a leader to submit to media interviews and accept outside writing assignments is to enable followers to read or hear what is written or said.
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CONTROL THE FLOW OF INFORMATION
He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9
A wise leader needs to understand how valuable, even how precious, information is. It needs to be seen as a perishable resource, to be used at “its peak of freshness,” but not before it’s “ripe.”
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THE FREEDOM TO FAIL
I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t. Mark 9:18
Good leaders recognize the importance of giving their followers a chance to fail sometimes, knowing that failure is generally a much better teacher than success.
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CALL FORTH FAITH
Jesus said to him, “’If You can?’ Everything is possible to the one who believes.” Mark 9:23
One of the things Jesus teaches us about inspirational communication is that for us to be effective with it, we must be there. Many of today’s leaders fail to show up at opportune times when inspirational communication could be delivered.
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ONLY BY PRAYER
He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29
This is how Jesus lived and led. He used prayer in several ways. First of all, he was a man of prayer. He prayed both in private and in public. He used prayer to order his day. Secondly, Jesus was an example of a man of prayer. His disciples—those he led—had to have been struck by this.
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THE SERVANT LEADER
If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Mark 9:35
None of Jesus’ leadership lessons may seem more paradoxical than the servant/leader concept, which is, in fact, the very essence of both His leadership example and His leadership teaching.
In fact and in truth, this leadership lesson of Jesus is the single surest formula for success ever enunciated. Putting others first and becoming the servant of all does not mean going soft and namby-pamby. Too, it is obvious that He expected continual improvement in the disciples’ understanding and action. The way Jesus teaches it, serving all is not only about washing feet. It is also about leading followers into commitment, into dedication, into discipline, and into excellence.
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CHILDREN ARE WELCOME HERE
Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. Mark 9:37
We sometimes sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” How do we know that? Because He took a tiny infant in His arms and used Him to teach important spiritual truth. As a leadership principle, this is one of our Lord’s most powerful object lessons—one that still stirs the heart two thousand years later.
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THE “NOT INVENTED HERE” SYNDROME
We saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us. Mark 9:38
When leaders focus on God’s kingdom and make sure this is the focus of everyone else, good things happen. The same principle applies in every organizational situation.
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HOW TO DISPENSE REWARDS
Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name … will never lose his reward. Mark 9:41
Conventional wisdom says that to maximize profit, people should be paid as little as possible. Its proponents ask, “How little can we give this person and still retain and motivate her or him?” Jesus teaches us to ask just the opposite question: “What is the most we can afford to give this person while being good stewards of resources and seeing the enterprise succeed as it should?”
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THE MILLSTONE WARNING
It would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. Mark 9:42
Our responsibility as leaders is to be sure that we are not the cause of a follower’s failure. Part of creating and maintaining the right kind of atmosphere is a zero tolerance for evil within the organization. Many leaders have gotten into trouble by looking the other way when knowledge of wrongdoing within their organizations comes to their attention.
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TAKE UP YOUR AXE
If your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. Mark 9:45
Maintaining focus is one of the most important ongoing responsibilities of leadership. It begins with a mission statement and continues as we compare what we’re doing and planning around it. We must be ruthless in discarding those activities and programs which do not contribute directly to the goal as outlined in the mission statement. Human tendency is always to drift away from our original commitments. And when we sense this happening, the cost of moving against the tide will be enormous. It’s like cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye. Maintaining focus needs to be an ongoing, daily discipline for leaders.
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WORTH YOUR SALT
Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Mark 9:50
Leaders and those who hold them accountable need to understand that they must adhere to a high standard of faithfulness. They need to be able to say to those who follow them, “I have been faithful, and I expect the same from you.” A line from the great Steve Green song should be the motto for leaders of today: “May those who come behind us find us faithful.” It should be a part of our daily prayer to God. Jesus also taught about the preserving aspect of salt. While demonstrating faithfulness and generating excitement, leaders need to be sure they’re working to preserve the things that matter most in their enterprises. This is an admonition of particular importance for leaders coming into a new situation.
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MARRIAGE AND LEADERSHIP
Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate. Mark 10:9
How can you show God’s love to others? Let them see it in your marriage. It’s more effective than a hundred tracts or two hundred Scripture verses. Marriage matters to God, and it ought to matter to you. When leaders keep their vows, it becomes easier for followers to keep their promises.
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OVERPROTECTING THE LEADER
People were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them. Mark 10:13
It’s probably true that the more successful you become, the more likely it is that your key people will go out of their way to shield you from unwanted distractions. There are times when a leader must do what only a leader can do. Sometimes you have to cut through the red tape of procedure, even if it means embarrassing your top people in the process. You’ll actually create a teachable moment they’ll never forget.
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THE TRUTH ABOUT FLATTERY
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him “No one is good but One—God.” Mark 10:18
Be aware that flattery is a weapon of the enemy. It can lead to arrogance, and arrogance is deadly. One of the best weapons leaders have to combat a tendency toward arrogance is to keep in mind a clear picture of Jesus kneeling to wash the feet of his disciples.
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LEADING VS. MANAGING
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. Mark 10:32
Maintaining the status quo is what managers do. This is not at all a bad thing, but it is not leadership. Leadership, by its very definition, means being out front blazing new trails. This always causes amazement, fear, and discomfort. The leader is almost always the one who is called upon to give the most. The leader should see every enterprise as “broken” to the extent of asking the questions, “How can it be done better?” and “Are there new and untried ways we can use to improve?” This is what leadership is about. Managers accept things as they are. Leaders do not.
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TOTAL COMMITMENT
“What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked them. Mark 10:36
A wise leader will follow the example of Jesus when followers come seeking increases based on past performances, and he will present future challenges to them.
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THE ROYAL ORDER OF SERVANTS
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. Mark 10:43
Jesus painted an entirely different picture of ambition. “Do you want to be a leader? That’s great, because the world needs good leaders. Then become a servant. Pick up a towel and start washing dirty feet. Think of yourself as a slave and not as a master.” True leadership is not a matter of having a title, a position, or an overwhelming personality. Leadership is first and foremost a matter of the heart. Who is the leader we need? The one who is a servant.
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TAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE
Jesus answered him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Mark 10:51
Leaders stay focused on the things that matter, but they never forget that people matter more than things. And as this story demonstrates, true leaders take time for people. Let that be the final leadership lesson of Jesus. While you are on your way to the top, keep your eyes open for the people God puts in your path. Almost every day, you’ll find someone who needs the help only you can give. This book is now finished, but your adventure of following Jesus—the ultimate Leader—is just beginning. Lead on, following Him.