Five ways to be a better leader

You are a leader.

Yes, you.

You probably don’t think of yourself as one, but it’s true. You’re a leader because you have influence on the people around you. The way you live has the ability to change someone’s perspective, attitude or actions.

If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you’re a leader by caring for your children and managing the household.

If you’re in school, you lead your peers by the way you act on the basketball court and treat other students.

Some of you lead your family, your coworkers, your ministry area or your sports team.

Five Ways to Become a Better Leader Wherever You Are

1. Set goals.

Without a vision for what we’re working toward, we fall away from doing our best. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

Without a clear starting line and finish line, we’d run around the streets of a city chaotically instead of running a marathon. Setting goals helps us focus and succeed.

2. Invite people.

The more time you spend with people, the more you influence them. Invite neighbors over for dinner. Organize a party or a group outing. It’s impossible to sincerely care about other people if we’re not spending time with them. When you invite people into your home or social circle, you’re showing them they’re valuable as people and worth having a relationship with.

In John 1, when Philip invited his friend Nathanael to “come and see” Jesus, he was influencing Nathanael in a way that changed his life forever (John 1:43-49). The kind of leadership that helps others meet Jesus has eternal significance!

3. Be disciplined.

Discipline is saying “no” to some things so you can say, “yes” to the best things. Life is like a race. It takes energy, endurance and rest. Rather than living and acting aimlessly, self-control keeps us on track as we take each next step  (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

4. Accept feedback.

Leaders are supposed to have it all together, right? Wrong. Great leaders don’t hide their weaknesses; they admit them. We shouldn’t be so proud to think we’ve got things figured out but no one else does. Jesus warned His followers about this very thing, saying, “those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

Make it a point to surround yourself with people smarter than you. Having the humility to listen to what others think will only help your family, your organization and your ability to lead.

5. Give more than you take.

Leadership is a movement from being a consumer to being a contributor. Just like Jesus is a good leader who looked out for our wellbeing, our role as leaders is to express concern for the wellbeing of others. In Philippians 2:3-4, the apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

We can’t outgive God. He generously provides for all our needs. He doesn’t make us earn His love; we never could. Rather, He freely gives it to us.

Want to grow your leadership to another level? Sign up to lead a Group at newspring.cc/groups and help more people meet Jesus.