Great Leaders Serve First
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 (NASB1995)
How We Respond Matters
When my infant son fell and skinned his knees, I had a choice. I could run to him and emotionally scoop him up and ask him if he was okay, or I could calmly catch his eyes and let him see he would be okay; how we respond matters because those who look up to us will mirror our response.
Life is always 10% about what happens to us and 90% about how we respond.
Think opportunities, not problems. Problems are opportunities in disguise. -Craig Groeschel
Life seems to come at us fast, and how we respond matters. As many people do, we can fix our eyes on our problems and stay stuck, or we may choose to see the problems as opportunities, as Groeschel suggests.
Leading is actually about seeing the needs around us and addressing problems with eyes that see opportunities.
Problems present opportunities to serve. Therefore, good leaders identify needs and respond by figuring out how to meet them! Those who look up to you will mirror your response!
…through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 (NASB1995)
How Do I Serve to Lead?
- Pay attention to the little things.
People forget how fast you did a job – but they remember how well you did it. –Howard W. Newton
- Walk the walk.
It’s not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required. -Winston Churchill
- Have an attitude of gratitude.
Enthusiasm is contagious. It’s difficult to remain neutral or indifferent in the presence of a positive thinker. -Denis Waitley
- Empower others.
People just don’t want to take in something; they want to take on something. -Jeff Martin
- Listen well.
Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. -Stephen R. Covey
- Encourage everyone.
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
- Build trust.
Ordinary people with commitment can make an extraordinary impact on the world. -John C. Maxwell
These principles are wonderful and true; however, I challenge you. I challenge you to apply them and then to see beyond. When you listen to those you lead and encourage and build them up the way they are intended to be loved, you see beyond the skin straight into their hearts.
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. ― Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Today and always, I encourage you to listen, encourage, and build while looking for every opportunity to serve.
A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives. -Jackie Robinson
Heavenly Father, I praise You for sending Jesus to model what leadership truly looks like. Great leaders serve first. Jesus came to display love, and when He left, He empowered others to do the same. Each day may we mirror His response to life and have eyes to see the needs around us, which give us opportunities to serve. In Your Precious Name, I Pray, Amen
Basking in His Light
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