Leaders have the ability to shape people and make an impact. They can make a difference to the world around them. Many people call themselves leaders, but how many are truly effective leaders?
Ministry Insights strives to empower and develop leaders based on strengths. Let’s start by defining a few characteristics of a strong leader…
A Person With Sober Judgment
Pride and arrogance are all too often the adjectives used to describe one’s leader. But great leaders, who lead with a Christ-centred view, lead with humility.
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment… – Romans 12:3
Great leaders understand the strengths that God has given them and freely give those strengths to others with no strings attached. Sober judgment is their hallmark as they invite others into their limitations and freely receive the strengths of others as God’s perfect provision to protect their weaknesses.
A Leader Who Understands Their Team
People are your greatest asset. Truly understanding your team, their aspirations, goals, setbacks, and strengths, will help you lead them, as well as your organization to success. Your team is made up of different people. Celebrate their differences, coordinate them so they share their strengths where others are weaker, and empower them to strive higher.
Your team looks to you for guidance, support, and direction.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13
Take the time to understand your team and their strengths. Empower your team, and empower yourself as a leader.
An Articulate Communicator
A clear and open communication style encourages conversations, ideas, and sharing. Having the ability to articulate what you’re needing, or your ideas will enable your team to thrive.
Each one of the people you lead has a different communication style. Do you know what that style is and the specific strategies needed for effective communication to happen? Taking the time to know the people you lead is a pivotal part of building an effective communication strategy and being fully engaged.
A Strategic Risk Taker
You think strategically, you take calculated risks and you are one step ahead of the game; that’s an effective leader. Things don’t always go to plan, and that’s ok, but having thoroughly and strategically thought out your plan, your idea is worth the risk.
A Team Player
Your strengths are given to you so that you can share them. Leading by example and ‘getting your hands dirty’ not only earns respect but coaches your team to become stronger.
Whatever you take away from this, let it be to truly understand your own strengths and the potential they have to lead you to great places. Our Leading From Your Strengths assessment will take you through a series of questions to highlight where your strengths are, identify how you work best, and the type of people you work best with.
I’d like to leave you with a scripture to highlight what really makes a strong leader: Philippians 2: 3-7.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this be your hallmark as a leader.