The Mentoring Manifesto, Vol. 76: Leaders Worth Following

Leaders are people who have influence and use it for a purpose. And the amount of influence they have often correlates with the consistency between their walk and their talk. Leaders who say one thing and do another have only authority to lean on. Their influence will be minimal, if not negative. But the best ones know who they are, where they’re going, and why. Think about the people who’ve influenced you. I bet they showed most, if not all, of these characteristics…

Curiosity – Leaders have an insatiable hunger to learn, so they have more to share and give. Disciples are learners and followers of Jesus, not just learning about Jesus but living out what they’ve learned daily.

Humility – Jim Collins says that Level 5 Leaders exhibit consistent, genuine humility. Jesus, the greatest leader of all time, used only two words to describe Himself: “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Intentionality – Leaders know where they are going, and they consistently focus themselves in that direction. They continually and intentionally align their calendars, relationships, and energies.

Purposeful – Strong leaders know why they’re doing what they’re doing. They’ve asked and settled the question, “Is it worth it?” They consistently return to their purpose when they’re distracted or when they drift.

Secure – Leaders are secure in their identities. They’re not about themselves, their egos, or proving anything to anyone. They’re comfortable in their skin. They’re all-in for the cause, but they rest in God’s unconditional love and acceptance.

Leadership is such a common topic today that it can be easy to dismiss or disregard, but mentors are leaders, and those we mentor will likely become leaders if they aren’t already. So, it’s critical we get this right, to show them what a leader worth following looks like and how to get there. The resources below will help you and your mentees sharpen your leadership, make wise decisions, and steward your influence.

A HUMBLE LEADER

Jesus modeled humbled leadership as He led with sensitivity and prayerful obedience to His heavenly Father. In this article, Boyd Bailey breaks down the qualities of a humble leader, challenging us to look for opportunities to serve the needs of others as we humbly lead.

Read the article here.

DON’T BE A SHEEPDOG LEADER

In this blog, RM founder Regi Campbell unpacks this Dallas Willard quote: “The sheepdog forcibly maneuvers the sheep, whereas the biblical shepherd simply calls as he calmly walks ahead of the sheep,” to challenge us to be leaders who earn the right to lead.

Read the blog post here.

5 LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS PODCAST: JENNIE ALLEN

In this podcast interview, author Jennie Allen explains why she believes a close connection to Jesus is the only way to fully live out one’s purpose. Her passion during this conversation will encourage you, and challenge you by pushing you closer to Jesus.

Listen to the episode here.

DEVELOPING EMOTIONALLY MATURE LEADERS

We often think of leadership as dependent on head knowledge. But Scripture reminds us that heart knowledge is just as vital. We can’t lead others well if we aren’t aware of our emotions and the emotions of others. This reading plan unpacks the importance of emotional intelligence. 

Start the reading plan here.