Leadership is the action of leading a group of people. It is the state or position of being a leader. Leadership also is about living to serve others. This is the essence of servant leadership. The great biblical writer Matthew said, “Leaders should not exercise authority over people. Instead, whoever wants to become great must lower himself to be a servant. Leaders realize that serving others is the only way to lead with a pure heart, free of pride and arrogance.”
There are five principal characteristics of a great leader:
- Leaders put others before themselves.
- Leaders do what’s right, even when it isn’t easy or popular.
- Leaders don’t quit in the midst of failure.
- Leaders know how to prioritize.
- Leaders are willing to admit when they are wrong.
Despite the multitude of ways in which leadership has been conceptualized, these components can be identified as central to the characteristics of servant leadership: it involves influence and common goals, and it occurs in groups.
Based on these characteristics, leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. However, success in any endeavor calls for surrounding yourself with the right people. That’s why you should always seek God’s input in your relationships and the people you choose to lead.
David, the great king in biblical times, chose people who helped him achieve greatness. These were the mighty men who became a loyal army and David became their leader. They helped strengthen David’s leadership role in Israel. He built a strong inner circle before he needed it. He started building his team long before he was crowned king.
The essence of David was to live to serve others. He attracted people with varied gifts. He reached for them, rewarded them, and wasn’t intimidated by those who had skills that were different from his. As we live to serve others, always cultivate their loyalty and draw people close to you with a shared vision. And Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
