I've been thinking about what it takes to be a good leader. Here are a few quick observations. The list is certainly not exhaustive, but it is suggestive of what the ideal leader looks like. What would you add?
- The ideal leader has a clear, compelling vision that will benefit all people and will uphold the principles of morality, humility, decency, and godliness. The world has enough leaders who are consumed with their own ego, bank accounts, and power.
- The ideal leader will be a servant of the people. He will not be a dictator. Jesus warned His disciples of this in Mark 10:42-45 when He said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- The ideal leader will be a person of integrity. Psalm 78:72 says of King David, “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” Proverbs 20:28 states “Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.” (from THE MESSAGE)
- The ideal leader communicates his vision with consistency, creativity, and clarity.
- The ideal leader is willing to change the organization while helping people see themselves in the new paradigm. Have you ever been a part of a group photo? The first thing we do when the photo is displayed is to look for ourselves in the picture. Most people are fearful of change if they feel like they are being left out of the "picture." A good leader knows this and helps people see themselves in the new "picture."
- The ideal leader enlists a winning team of the right people in the right roles.
On the political front, I would call Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan among some of our greatest leaders of recent memory. In religious matters I would call Billy Graham a good leader of the evangelical movement. Of course, the greatest leader of all is the Lord Jesus Christ. May He be our example of servant-leadership.
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."Philippians 2:5-11 (NLT)