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Joseph
Successful leaders grow and develop through adverse circumstances as they pursue their God-given dreams.
(On a side note, check out my post from earlier this year entitled “Joseph: From Pit to Prime Minister”)
Successful leadership starts off with a dream, whether big or small—a desire to be better, a desire to do better, or a desire to help someone else.
The way a person handles setbacks and challenges can be an accurate predictor of his or her ability to be a successful leader.
Look at Joseph’s life. He exemplifies perseverance. He was given a dream at a very young age. When he was given a dream that his brothers would bow down to him, Joseph didn’t seem to stop even for a second to consider how this news would make his brothers, who were older, feel. He was so focused on his dream, he hadn’t taken the time to consider its impact on anyone else. A mature leader takes her audience and the timing into consideration when sharing goals.
God can give us visions and dreams, but rarely do we fully understand how these things will come to pass or even what they mean when they are first given to us. With God-given dreams, we only see a portion of what God is calling us to do, and if we are not careful, we, like Joseph, can allow our human and partial vision to proclaim something that isn’t really about God but about us.
The irony of leadership is that it’s not about being in charge but really about serving. Joseph undergoes real-time training, first as a slave and then as a trusted assistant.
A leader’s very presence changes the atmosphere of a home, church, office space, playground, or classroom. Like every good leader and even not-so-good ones, Joseph encountered tests of his integrity, tests of his relationship with God, tests of his ego, and tests of his leadership abilities.
Leader, do you know your trigger points? Do you know what could cause you to fall into temptation?
It could be greed, the temptation to want more and more and more. More is an infinite concept—you will always want more until you are content with what you have (see Philippians 4:11–13). Your temptation may be power or ego or status or appearance; know your trigger points, know your temptations, and wisely activate escape plans as quickly as possible.
A Leader’s Prayer – I want to be a wise and discerning leader who always gives you the credit for my abilities. Keep me humble as I look for opportunities to serve your people well. I am a wise leader, ever seeking to grow closer to your vision for my life as I grow closer to you. Amen. Let each experience shape you and your character.
Leadership has an amazing way of reminding us to serve, just as Jesus did for us.
Moses
Successful leaders make others better.
(On a side note, check out my post from earlier this year entitled “Moses: Learning to Look Ahead” – and “Learning Situational Leadership from Moses, Jesus, and Paul”)
When we consider the men and women of the Bible who served as examples of successful leadership, Moses is one who handled people with lots of issues; he led the complaining and discontent Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and even intervened with God for this unappreciative group. He had a tough job, and he rose to the occasion. He’s arguably the greatest leader of the Old Testament.
Moses’ entire career could be summed up with the title liberator.
Even when you are raised with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth, you can stand up for others. You can use your privilege and power to assist—not kill or further oppress another. The murder Moses committed does catch up with him, as all sins tend to. Ever the liberator, Moses tried to intervene when he saw two Israelites fighting (Exodus 2:13). When he asked why a brother was hitting another brother, one of the men turned on Moses and asked, Are you going to kill me like you killed that Egyptian? (Exodus 2:13–14)
Every place we go is a place of preparation, whether we realize it or not. God knows our paths and his plans for us; perhaps the dry season in your life is the setup for the biggest and most important leadership role in your life. Sometimes it can take years upon years (forty for Moses) to get the experience and knowledge and insight we need to truly lead.
Isn’t that all we are as leaders: God’s instruments? God can use us to do great things—but don’t get it twisted; God can use anyone to do even greater things. Degrees are great. Training is essential. Mentors help. But in the end, it’s God who truly provides what we need to lead.
God can and does reveal our passions if we take the time to listen and stay in tune with his promptings, even when we feel unqualified to do what God calls us to do.
Moses persevered and passionately led the people, reminding them that God had indeed heard their cries for liberation. He masterfully steps into his role and follows God’s instructions, even as he leads a sometimes-doubting people across the massive Red Sea. Liberation work was Moses’ sweet spot, whether he recognized it or not.
Jethro told Moses to handle only the big cases because his load needed to be lighter (refer to Exodus 18:23–24 or my post entitled “Three Lessons from the World’s First Management Consultant”). By stepping back, Moses could actually help his people more. Have you evaluated your effectiveness and potential for burnout, leader? Are you the only one who can do the work at hand—or are there people around you that you can train and entrust to help you in a meaningful way? You can serve better when you use your help effectively.
Leaders want to do it all and see success, but we can’t want to meet goals so much that we are willing to sacrifice our own well-being. Even God ordained the Sabbath day as a day of rest, a day to reflect and connect. (Refer to my post on “Sabbath Rest” and summary of the book “Keeping the Sabbath Wholly”)
A Leader’s Prayer – Help me to pull out the very best in your people, even when they complain and grumble. Give me the spirit of Moses to liberate people from their oppressors, even when that oppressor lives within. Give me the strength to follow you fully and trust only in your strength and power. I love you and I am honored to serve you by serving your people. Amen. Make someone better today.
A wise and successful leader does just what God says—regardless of the ever-present temptation to add more or do more for emphasis.
Huldah
Successful leaders say what needs to be said, regardless of the message.
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe. She said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you, ‘This is what the LORD says…’” (2 Kings 22:14–16)
We live in a world that honors affirmation more than truth. Affirmation is important, but affirmation should not come at the cost of truth. People want to know you approve of their work and think they are doing an awesome job. It makes them feel more secure and better about themselves. But what happens when that is just not the truth? Aren’t we doing more of a disservice to those we serve as leaders when we don’t speak truthfully?
Successful leaders have to learn to say what needs to be said, even when it is tough. That’s why Patton loves the small passage of scripture in 2 Kings 22:14–20 that references the prophet Huldah.
Huldah was a prophetess—a woman who delivers God’s messages. (She was also a wife, proving even in antiquity that women can lead inside and outside of our homes.) As a prophet, Huldah was charged with delivering God’s message. She was called upon to tell a group what God had said after King Josiah discovered the book of the Law that had been abandoned by the people. When the king and his charges realized that this book had been discovered, he decided to read it (a novel idea!). When King Josiah, who had become king at age eight, hears the words from scripture, he wants to change. (He, too, serves as a successful model of leadership.) Upon hearing God’s Word, Josiah’s heart was changed.
Josiah’s men landed at the doorstep of Huldah, the wise leader who told it exactly like it was. She told the men exactly what she heard from God. She cut straight to the chase and delivered just what “the Lord, God of Israel” said: disaster is coming. Huldah could have chosen to dress up her words; she could have decided to say something more pleasing to the king’s ears; she could have tried to win favor with the king.
Huldah talked straight. She gave the message she knew was from God. Huldah said in pretty plain language (even for biblical language): “This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the King of Judah has read” (2 Kings 22:16).
It is good that the Bible includes Huldah, a woman prophet, because sometimes women today who speak forthrightly are not seen as good leaders but rather aggressive and insensitive, while men can say what they mean and walk away and get results. Women leaders are sometimes held to a different set of rules and forced to tiptoe around on eggshells to say what needs to be said.
A Leader’s Prayer – Give me the wisdom to communicate clearly and effectively so that your people may grow and develop. Empower me to empower those you have put in my charge so that we may each grow to be the best you would have us be. Forgive me for the times I have not spoken boldly and truthfully. I desire to be a successful leader like Huldah and say what needs to be said. Amen. Have that tough conversation—today.
Say it. Mean it. Watch others grow.
King Saul and the Prophet Samuel
Successful leaders always do what God says.
Then Samuel said, Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to GOD’s command, he says No to your kingship (1 Samuel 15:22–23)
Leaders need advisors.
A successful leader can honestly assess his child’s gifts and strengths and either groom them adequately for the position (even if that means having them work their way up through the ranks) or choose a successor better suited to the needs of the organization. A successful leader can make a tough choice. The mission of the organization surpasses the hurt feelings of the child or the parent.
Saul didn’t feel worthy of the honor to be named king. There’s something endearing about his humility (1 Samuel 9:21). Saul knows he’s not from a royal family; he’s from the smallest class of the smallest tribe. He feels insignificant and unworthy.
Humility as Christian leaders is essential.
The very nature of who we are as Christians—followers of Christ, who sacrificed his life for ours—should make us stop dead in our tracks, rip up our accolades, and humbly say, I am not worthy of this job, yet I’ll go because you have called me, Lord. When you are tempted to think you deserve a position or deserve respect or deserve to be in a certain place, compare yourself to our model, Jesus Christ. You will come up sufficiently lacking. Learn from Saul’s humility, even if he didn’t keep it throughout his reign.
Leaders are called, leaders are anointed, leaders are made capable by God’s Holy Spirit.
Saul fell for several reasons. First, Saul let the people’s fear become his fears. Saul began by asking for the prophet Samuel, and Saul even waited seven days for Samuel (1 Samuel 13:8). Saul had his mind in the right place; he thought the people needed the priest (Samuel) to offer sacrifices to the Lord to face the giant Philistines. Saul wanted to seek God, and he called for his help (Samuel), but his help didn’t come within the time frame Saul thought was appropriate. He panicked.
Saul went ahead and made the offering himself, which was against the commandment. Samuel says when he does show up (1 Samuel 13:13), “You acted foolishly.” One misstep, one time listening to the wrong people, one time jumping the gun can lead us down a spiral that will negatively impact our leadership.
Knowing God’s spirit left him, Saul turned wicked. A word to the wise: be careful when you make one misstep; another is lurking around the corner.
A Leader’s Prayer – Help me to stay under your anointment each and every second of this day. When I am tempted to turn away, grab me and bring me to my senses quickly. I do not want to walk this path without you.
Pray about every decision you make.
King David and Nathan
Successful leaders desire to be right with God—first.
Leaders need advisors.
Upon initial glance, David was an outstanding and successful leader, one to be emulated, quoted, and followed. But David wasn’t all perfect. David was close to God—and even during his failures, David stayed close to God throughout his life.
When David saw the army of Israelites afraid of the giant Goliath, David simply recalled what he learned as a boy: God will help me fight the battle.
Leader, think about all that God has brought you through, all that God has allowed you to come through—not because of your smarts or strength, but because God decided to do it. Use that information to tackle today’s giant, whatever it may be.
Leader, your heart has to be clean and pure and always seeking to follow God’s will. You may not do right all of the time, but your heart must be desiring the right thing.
One admirable characteristic of David as a successful leader is that he is humble and ready to serve, regardless of his title. Another characteristic of David’s leadership is that he served Saul and his dysfunctional system even though David was well aware that he had been called and anointed to be king himself. He had already been chosen and confirmed by Samuel, yet he didn’t push God’s hand and take the kingdom by force. David waited his turn.
True faith believes, like David apparently did, that even in a dysfunctional organization or family or church, God is operating. A successful leader will move only when God says move. Dysfunction doesn’t call the shots; God does. A true leader also realizes there is something to be learned even in disorder and disarray. There’s probably more to learn within a dysfunctional system than there is in one that is operating smoothly.
Owning Up to Missteps
Yet David’s story doesn’t just include his victories. David is human, with a great big repentant heart that resembles God’s heart.
David’s return to God is guided by his mentor and prophet, Nathan. Every successful leader needs trusted mentors and prophets—the ones who say exactly what needs to be said, not what we want to hear. We need the wise ones who know how to get our attention and set us straight when needed.
We as leaders are human. We as leaders will fall and make mistakes and get sidetracked.
A Leader’s Prayer – Make my heart pure and right. Help me to see those I serve as your amazing creations. Help me to work in partnership with you to guide and lead others into their purpose and calling. I desire to see everyone I serve know you fully and walk fully in all you have called them to do. Show me how to lead. Show me how to guide. Show me how to humbly follow you and stay close to you so sin won’t be able to take me down a dangerous path.
Evaluate your motives frequently. Ask God for a clean heart.
Tabitha
Successful leaders serve, first and foremost.
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. (Acts 9:36)
Successful leadership is about how we serve, how we influence others, how we care for others, and how we help others become all they are destined to be. Leadership is about helping. Tabitha, one woman with a short passage of scripture devoted to her story, exemplifies true leadership. She is described as a disciple, which means she followed Christ.
Tabitha (whose name can be translated “gracious”) was described as one who was “always doing good and helping the poor.” It’s as if her actions were her name; they describe who she was.
Tabitha, who was also known as Dorcas, took care of people who were considered the least of these; she took care of those who were least likely to ever be able to repay her kindness. The mark of a successful leader is how he handles those who cannot repay him. How does she treat the ones who cannot give her a positive review? How do you treat those who can give you nothing in return?
Tabitha teaches leaders to help selflessly, to donate our time and our wisdom and our gifts without seeking a return.
God sees our service (Galatians 6:7–9). When we give our best and serve from our best (not the leftovers), we are taken care of.
When the people asked when had they done all of this for the Lord, he replied: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Service to others is service to God. It has to be your best.
A Leader’s Prayer – Pour into me the spirit of Tabitha so I may be generous: free to give of my time, my skills, and my resources to help your people.
Give generously of your time, talent, and treasure.
Phoebe
Successful leaders embody their vision.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me. (Romans 16:1–2)
Right there in Romans 16 is her story. A woman. A deacon. Someone the writer Paul entrusted and submitted to the church, despite his sometimes-controversial reports on women and limitation of their duties in the church. He told the people to take care of her and to give her whatever she needed. Why? Because she was a great servant (deacon) to many people, and she had even helped him.
Can those you serve see your values, not just hear you recite them? Do you live out the vision statement you’ve set forth for your organization?
If you say you value diversity, does your list of friends and staff reflect that you care about diversity, from the support staff through the executive ranks and board of directors?
The best visions are played out in the actions of the leader. The quickest way to get people to turn a deaf ear to your words is to live a different story.
Baldwin’s quote applies to leaders and those they serve too.
Paul could have sent this important letter by a regular courier, but he chose Phoebe specifically. He even asked the people to take really good care of her. Why? Because he knew she’d be serving them, pouring out her heart for them, and physically using her hands to work for them and minister to their needs.
True leaders never stop learning.
Some managers are all about giving the orders, making the meetings, setting the agendas, and making sure their workers are doing their jobs, while others are about teamwork, setting the vision, and helping get the job done with elbow grease. Do others see you chipping in? Do they see you treating members of your household with respect or just barking out orders? Do you model your vision and work ethic while at home, at work, and in the community or just state it?
A Leader’s Prayer – Make me a model of your service. Help me to live a life that shows others you and your grace.
Live your mission more than you speak it.
Peter
Successful leaders are strong and faith-filled.
People want to follow someone they can believe in, someone they believe can take their organization to another level, the place in their vision. People need a strong leader. And the only way to be a strong Christian leader is to have strong faith in the Christ you follow. One of the strongest people in the scriptures is Peter—so much so that he is even called a rock. That single word alone sounds strong. Rock sounds solid.
Rocks are strong. Rocks are solid, and while they do break, it takes a great force to break them because rocks are formed over time. The best rocks emerge after some real knockout fights and battles. Those battles don’t leave a successful leader forever scarred; they leave you stronger and more dependent on Christ, the true solid rock.
In Matthew 16:16, Peter boldly declares that Christ is the Messiah, the one who has come to save us from our sins; as evidenced by the answers of the others in previous verses, not everyone understood Christ’s purpose. But Peter got it. Peter declared who Jesus was in this section in Matthew, and because of his understanding of the Messiah, Peter was called the rock. Christ himself declared that the church would be built upon the rock, Peter.
To build rock-solid faith, seek answers from God. Peter was loud and bold. Even when your questions seem dumb or simple, be bold enough to seek out Bible-believing, faith-filled mentors to discuss your thoughts with. He was not perfect, yet he was a rock-solid successful leader. God is not looking for the perfect leader, but the one who is ready and willing to be formed by Christ’s example.
Leadership doesn’t change who you are naturally; you may be shaped and molded to be more like Christ, but your personality will show through. Peter’s fieriness showed up even as he followed Christ. He carried his personality with him because he was an authentic leader.
Peter did the unthinkable. Peter defied the laws of gravity and walked on water.
Leader, stay focused on the miracle worker, not the miracles. I don’t want to dwell on what made Peter fall. I want to dwell on what made Peter walk. It was his faith in Jesus. He knew Jesus was God; he had already proclaimed it. He knew Jesus could do anything; he had already seen it. So he was acting upon his faith.
A Leader’s Prayer – Strengthen my faith each day so that I may do the things that seem impossible, not because of my efforts, but because of your grace and strength. I know I can do all things through you and only through you, for you strengthen me.
Develop stronger faith as you become a strong leader.
Paul
Successful leaders are passionate.
…though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ… (Philippians 3:4–8)
This leader of the new church was resilient, passionate, and fully dedicated to his causes. Paul embodies passion. He lives it, he writes it, he shares it, he makes others want to follow his lead and live passionately.
Paul’s passion is easily recognized even from the first time we see this man in scripture (Acts 8:1). Saul was a leader even at this time. He was a leader on the other side of Christianity—one who persecuted Christians, one who thought the Messiah would look different, one who upheld the Jewish laws at the time. Even when he was on the wrong side of the fence, Saul was a leader. He demonstrated fiery passion and followed through on his convictions. He thought Christians were wrong and crazy, and he did what he could to stop them from spreading their message.
True leaders show up, especially when it matters. People believe in leaders who believe in what they are doing and saying. Even on the wrong side, Saul was displaying leadership qualities.
Leading those who look like us and think like us can often be easier than doing the bold and unknown thing. Thankfully, Ananias listened to God and believed God’s promise to make Paul an “instrument” to carry his name throughout the world (Acts 9:15).
God used Paul’s preaching abilities and writing abilities for good. His words were amazing. His writing was impassioned. But his real testimony was the way he lived. People were astonished to see his change. He probably brought more people to Christ because they were curious. Now, what happened to this man?
True leaders are vulnerable and share who they are.
A Leader’s Prayer – Give me the strength to focus on you to renew and transform my mind. Teach me to think about the things you have done for me through Christ so I may serve you better, so I may serve your people better. Ignite my passion so I may run on until the end, giving you all the glory.
Come alive today.
Jesus
Our model of successful leadership.
Jesus is our ultimate example. He is our true leader.
Jesus was bold. He said what needed to be said without mincing words. Whether it was challenging the pious religious leaders of the day, demons, or his followers, Jesus spoke the truth and was unapologetic about it (Matthew 21:12–13). Successful leaders say and do the bold things.
Jesus was compassionate. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus displaying compassion for the people he is trying to teach. He saw that they were hungry, and he provided for them (Mark 8:2). He saw that they were lost and wandering without true leadership (Mark 6:34), so he taught them.
Jesus was connected to God. As the Son of God, divinity clothed in humanity, Jesus couldn’t get disconnected from God. He was God. Likewise, successful leaders need to be intimately connected with God at all times. We need to be like branches attached to the vine (John 15), recognizing that we cannot move or function or be our true selves if we are not attached to our vine, our maker and power source.
Jesus asked for help and accepted it. While traveling throughout Jerusalem and surrounding areas, Jesus often needed help. He needed to be fed (his physical body got hungry), he needed places to rest his head, and he needed companions.
Successful leaders understand that they cannot complete their mission alone, even if it feels like it would be easier that way. No one can do it alone. While we need God’s strength and help, we also need the help of people around us. Christ-like leaders know how to say yes to help, realizing that it will mean empowering others to do a job in their own way. We give up micromanaging and control to allow others to help us meet our mission and our goal.
Jesus relaxed and had downtime with God and others. Jesus had time to just sit and enjoy himself with his friends. He was not always on the grind. Sometimes we need to sit down and rejuvenate.
The successful leader recognizes the boundless amount of inspiration, guidance, and instructions buried in God’s Word awaiting our discovery. Successful leaders commit to learning more and more about God as they grow each day. Our life reflects lifetime learning; our faith walk reflects lifetime growth in Christ.
A Leader’s Prayer – I want to be a leader like Christ: humble, mission-filled, compassionate, helpful, and whole. Make me look more and more like Christ each day. Through your spirit and through your strength alone.
Live like Jesus every day.