LOVING Leadership

Companies. Churches. Nations. What do they have in common? They all rise or fall on leadership. So, it stands to reason that if you are a leader, you want to do all that you can to be the best you can be, to improve in your leadership. If not, well, there is always someone who is studying your strengths and weaknesses. They might just become your successor. That won't be a bad thing if you are prepared to hand over the reigns. So, what does it take to be a better leader? You must first recognize that leadership that will be duplicated should flow out of love. Jesus, the Son of God, and the greatest leader this world has ever known, was the epitome of a leader whose influence flowed from a place of love.
Here's what LOVING leadership looks like using that very word.

Leadership should be:

Launchable: As a leader, we have to be able to cast the vision, equip those who will carry the vision, and then launch them. One of Peter the disciple's most admired traits was his sheer boldness to take Christ at his Word, and launch out. As a leader, you have to know when to tell the team to step out, stay on the boat, or dock it. The evidence of the success of your launch is not when you are at the helm, but when you are asleep below deck. Jesus' disciples were not yet ready for Pentecost, hence the refrain, "Master, carest not that we perish?" They still needed time to know Jesus purpose and mission for them.


Observable: There is nothing worse than someone directing you to do something, yet never taking time to model what it is they want or walk you through the process. Very few people are entirely audible learners, meaning most need HANDS on care. If the mission is always failing or aborted, go back and check whether you made the mission observable. Jesus never assumed the disciples knew how to spread the Gospel. He allowed them to walk with him in ministry. He mourned, He got angry, He rebuked, He danced, He hung out, He sung hymns. They saw the total leader, not just the PC side.

Validating: Almost as bad as blind directions is the feeling you are being set up to fail. As a leader it is imperative to affirm the mission and the messenger for the assignment. David was anointed as King not just in the field while herding sheep, but before all his kinsman. He was validated and therefore walked in a confidence and security that would have been lacking.

Involving: As a leader, it is important to get your hands dirty, and also allow people to be apart of the process and own the vision, goals, and mission of your organization. Yes, there is a time where leaders need to retreat and refuel, but there is also the time when leaders need to swing the golf club or make the 3-pointer with the company team.

Next Generation Minded: As a leader, you have to think beyond the now to what is to come. This requires prophetic eyes and insight. A leader will not build a vision around him or herself, but will equip the team with the principles that will carry the organization into the future, regardless of who is at the helm. Jesus left a playbook of instructions so that his mission could be easily understood, mass communicated, and duplicated at breakneck speed. Can your vision do the same?

Generous: If your organization or team is going to grow, you have to be willing to give, to invest in the team. You might do this through providing training, incentives, a better health package, opportunities to further education. A leader who is generous understands that people are the greatest investment property. Team members who are poured into will remain with an organization even in hard times. Why? Because they became vested in the success of what was invested in them.

So, Next Generation Leaders, have you provided loving leadership? If not, it isn't too late to strengthen the areas that need strengthening. May God bless the work of your company, ministry, and nation as you take leadership to the next level!