Print This Article     Email This Article to a Friend       Seven Attributes of a Jesus-like Leader   Why did Jesus have the greatest influence over people and nations the world has ever known? As I've studied the New Testament with this question in mind, I've identified several attributes that made Him the powerful leader He was. I've listed seven of them below. 1. A Sense of Destiny One of the hallmarks of the life of Jesus was the clear sense of destiny that rang in His words and shined through His actions. His success as a leader came, in part, through His ability to instill that same sense of destiny in others. Are you living out of a sense of destiny? And is it visible to those you lead? 2. A Person of Action "Don't just stand there. Do something." When you have leadership responsibility, it's all too easy to become frozen in indecision. Some have called it "the paralysis of analysis." Jesus clearly never suffered from this malady. He was a man of action. He spoke when words were necessary. He intervened when intervention was called for. With purpose and focus, He did what needed to be done. In what situation that has you paralyzed is action needed? Be a person of action. 3. Acceptance Do you need to be a more effective influence on those around you? You'll find your ability to lead others soaring when they know you love them unconditionally. Jesus experienced rejection, criticism, and even betrayal, but His acceptance of others was unwavering. When those you lead know your acceptance and care won't be withdrawn when they make a mistake or disagree, you'll find them responding to your leadership as never before. Do your people sense your unconditional acceptance? 4. Duplication How many leaders are confident enough to encourage their subordinates to surpass them? Jesus was just such a leader. He once told His disciples that they would do greater things than He had done. The goal of Jesus' leadership was to duplicate Himself in those under His care—to raise up others who could carry on His mission. Wise leaders follow this pattern, but the insecure find this impossible. Are you secure enough in your place at the head table to duplicate yourself? 5. Accountability There's a common thread that runs through Jesus' parables. Especially those concerning delegated authority and money. That thread is "accountability." In the stories Jesus told, people are held accountable for the diligence they apply and the results they produce. Great leaders follow this pattern. They hold people accountable for that which has been entrusted to them. Accountability is not about assigning blame. It's about helping people grow. Do those you lead feel accountable or have they learned that a day of reckoning never comes? 6. Setting the Example Employee manuals and policy handbooks do not create a corporate culture. The atmosphere in a business or a home is most strongly influenced, not by what the leader says but by what the leader does. Jesus recognized the power of setting the right example. When a leader demands punctuality but chronically arrives late for meetings, he sends a mixed message that will poison the attitudes of those he is trying to influence. What kind of "by example" training will the people around you receive today? 7. Transparency Does being a leader mean never allowing anyone to see your mistakes, weaknesses, or fallibleness? Many people seem to think so, but one of Jesus' leadership secrets was His willingness to be transparent before His disciples. Though Jesus was the first perfect person to ever walk the earth, the people you're trying to lead don't expect you to be the second one. A willingness to engage in some self-disclosure creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty. What are the obstacles keeping you from being a more transparent leader? Is it possible for you to cultivate these nine attributes in your life? Absolutely! If you are a Christian, Jesus is in you (John 6:56). And you have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16). Simply begin by having the courage to honestly evaluate where you are today, then make a quality decision to cooperate with the Spirit of God to bring the appropriate changes to your heart, to your thinking, and to your habits.
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