Leadership might be the most talked-about skill in the marketplace today. A casual scroll through LinkedIn will reveal thoughts on principles, philosophies, and strategies about leading in the workplace.
Why? Because the idea of leadership can be quite intoxicating. With the thought of leadership comes the presumption of a title and position of influence. After all, a leader has followers, right? Who doesn’t want those?
And if we’re in a position of influence, we want an edge. How can we lead, inspire and motivate well?
These are all legitimate questions, but as Christ-followers, we need to examine ourselves as we consider how to lead at work.
The simple answer is we should lead with faith.
You’ve probably seen qualities like “hustle” or “empathy” or “humility” expressed as the cornerstone of leadership. All those may be components of leadership, however, none of those should preside over the true principles of leading with a heart toward God.
Here are a few building blocks:
- You can be a leader regardless of your position. Leadership is about influence, not talent. I would submit that in today’s marketplace, we don’t have a shortage of talent. We have a deficit in leadership with Godly character.
Until Jesus, Moses was the most prominent example of leadership in the history of mankind. However, Moses was far from the most talented person. In fact, he continued to doubt his abilities every time God called him to lead:
“Moses said to the LORD, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow in speech and tongue.’”
Exodus 4:10
This was one of many instances where Moses didn’t think he had the necessary skills. In spite of his weaknesses, Moses continued to take up the mantle of leadership because he trusted God – not his own abilities. Even with a talent deficit, he influenced and led the Israelites through the most remarkable journey in history.
- Jesus, the greatest leader, best demonstrated the idea of servant leadership. Servant leadership only makes sense in the upside-down Kingdom that Jesus came to introduce. While speaking to a crowd and His disciples, Jesus said:
“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:11
Humility is our friend – but if we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled. I take that seriously, especially as a direct quote from the Boss himself.
When He spoke, Jesus was giving us an idea of what the Kingdom of God looks like. That’s the kind of order I want to be a part of, as the systems of this world will continue to fade away. A key here is recognizing that the world screams the opposite message. When given authority, we need to check ourselves and realize what leadership really is: service to others.
- One trap to avoid is the sense of false humility. If you’ve been in many Christian circles, you’ve probably seen this on display. In playing a Christian “role,” we can have the pretense of humility when we’re very proud and boastful underneath. If you’re a business leader and follow the Lord, don’t use faith as a pretense. That’s dangerous ground.
Even the most mature Christ-follower is susceptible to pride. In a world full of humble-brags and self-glorifying, let’s aim to truly glorify God in our leadership. That means in every accomplishment, point to Christ in us as the difference-maker.
The Better word:
- Do you desire to lead at work? Ask the Holy Spirit to seek your heart in understanding what really entices you about it. If you’re already in a leadership role, regularly examine yourself on what your guiding principles are.
- If we’re going to lead with faith, we’ll first need to understand how the Holy Spirit is leading us. Ask God how to be influential for His Kingdom – both with your gifts and despite your shortcomings. Like Moses, it doesn’t mean having doubts, it means living in confident obedience.
- Leadership in business is about the development of people. What are you developing them toward? If you’re leading them toward nothing but achievement, does that reconcile with your faith? Think about the outcomes of your leadership – not just in a person’s career, but in their character.
Speak A Better Word 
Thanks for the post, Jake. I agree with your focus on faith in leadership, and what you said about how we’ll never have a deficit of talent in the market; instead, the deficit will always be on Christ-like character, and the focus of Spirit-led leadership is developing yourself so you can help develop others, all towards being more like Jesus and being his ambassadors in this crazy world. We need more of this perspective today, and increasingly so. I watched a leadership video where a guy spent some time with a Navy Seals unit. After observing them for a few days, he asked them how they choose their leaders and teammates for their field operations. They drew a diagram for him that showed a spectrum of skill vs. trust, and they showed how they value trust over skill. They would rather have someone in their unit who’s not the highest skilled, but can be trusted in dangerous and life-threatening environments. I’m so thankful our Heavenly Father has given all of us his Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct us each day as we seek Jesus first and walk in the ways & wisdom of his heavenly kingdom. Shalom, Maranatha.
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