Looking to become a better leader? Scripture speaks to those who would learn to lead in all facets of life and work. The Bible teaches, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). This core principle of biblical leadership—putting others first—should permeate your actions. Whether you lead in a company, or in government, or in a marriage or family, the role is always focused on people. The product of leadership is not more income, better products or smart decisions. Rather, the result of effective leadership is to produce more leaders.
Shaping and influencing through vital relationships builds up others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 instructs, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” The key facet of leadership development—that is, investing in others for the purpose of seeing them exhibit excellence through their own lives and leadership—is “baked in” to New Testament teaching. The Apostle Paul, brought up in the Jewish religious tradition, continued the practice of mentoring following his dramatic conversion, first with Barnabas and then with Timothy. He often wrote of leadership by example, for instance in his admonition to the church at Corinth: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
In today’s culture, people-first leadership begins with people-centered, spiritual habits. Think about what you might start in your own life and leadership that will result in greater influence and impact in the lives of those around you. Here are three things you can do immediately that will make you a better leader:
Start purposefully. The first hour of your morning will set the tone for your entire day. Get these minutes wrong, and you’ll never redeem the remaining hours effectively. Each day, connect to Christ in your live and leadership with a time in prayer and Bible study in the morning. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reminds us, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” This is a great reminder for the leader of making time in the Scriptures the start of a purposeful day.
Ask God to rule over your day, helping you to make the most of each connection and opportunity. Consider your personal and professional encounters to be openings to live out your faith as a leader among the people in your sphere of influence. As you read the Bible in the morning, commit to “live out” what you have read throughout your day, letting God’s Word influence your thoughts and actions—His Word being “on your heart” as Deuteronomy 6 instructs. When Scripture becomes a lifestyle, it will “rub off” on those around you “as you go” through the day. The Word of God becomes the example in the lead-by-example model. When you begin your day with God, you cannot help but reflect His will and character throughout the day.
Start listening. Leadership is much less about what you have to say than you realize. A set of rules or mandates, your opinions, your stories and experiences—if you consistently enter a conversation being the one who has something to say, then every relationship becomes an audience for your own voice. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” The ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus put this another way: “We have two ears and one mouth, so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” In fact, scientific research shows that a person cannot talk and listen at the same time—the brain concentrates on one or the other.
There is great wisdom gained in listening to others. The person you are listening to may not be wise, but what they say adds to your knowledge of them, and to your ability to gather information that will help both you and them. An excellent listening habit is to enter into a conversation without starting it. That is, let the other person speak first. If they don’t have something to say to begin with, then ask them a question that will lead them to begin the conversation. In your mind for any conversation, consider what will I hear from this person that will give me insight, and enable me to help or serve the person more effectively? Great listeners are great leaders. Great listeners don’t concentrate on making statements, but on gathering knowledge.
Start understanding. When you consider the various skills you can grow over time as a leader, perhaps the most important and useful one you can possess is empathy. This is the leader’s ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This is another skill we find in the Bible. Romans 12:15 tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Empathy is central to the leader being able to put others before himself. If you don’t desire to understand other people, your focus will not be on them, but on yourself. And they’ll know it.
Empathy is your mind asking, what is the other person thinking and feeling? Understanding this guides not only your conversations and communication, but how and when you make decisions, where you invest your time in growing relationships, the roles you assign, and the advice you give. The primary means to develop empathy is to be curious about the lives of those around you. Ask questions versus making assumptions. Don’t assume you know something, rather go through the exercise each time of explaining your thinking and asking the opinions of others. Gaining this input doesn’t reduce your leadership capacity, rather it raises trust levels as others see your genuine interest in their thoughts and emotions.
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The key facet of leadership development—that is, investing in others for the purpose of seeing them exhibit excellence through their own lives and leadership—is “baked in” to New Testament teaching.