6 Attributes of a Leader
This past weekend, I sat down with my 2015, 2016 and 2017 calendar and mapped out the Good Morning Girls Bible Reading Plan for the next 3 years. My eyes were opened.
Blogging Through the Bible is a BIG commitment. I will be doing this for a VERY long time.
And I LOVE it – it is my honor and joy to serve in this way.
So as I set the pace for the ministry God has given me to lead, I reflected on what it is going to take, to accomplish my goals.
Here is what I believe are the 6 Essential Attributes of a Leader
1.) Follow Your Passion
There is no way I could blog through the Bible for years on end, if it was not something I was passionate about.
What has God made you passionate about? Is it loving on little ones? Encouraging the sick? Mentoring teens? Leading people in worship? Teaching Bible Studies? Or Opening your home for hospitality?
Whatever God has gifted you to do, most likely your passion will be attached to that. Follow your passion, to the glory of God.
2.) Have a Vision
Passion without a vision will go nowhere. This is the part where you open a notebook and brainstorm. Make lists of what your end goals are and how you can get there.
I am not a big visionary (that might surprise you). I am more of a doer than a dreamer.
I tend to come up with ideas that are short term and try them out. If they work, I do them again. If they fail. I don’t do them again. But when you connect one idea, to another idea, to another idea – the ideas strung together make a flourishing ministry.
One example of an idea I laid out on paper and started but never followed through on, was WomenLivingWell.TV. It’s a great idea…but I do not have the time to invest in making it flourish…so for now it will sit until I pick it back up again. Another idea was the Women Living Well Conference. After the first one was completed, emails came in asking, “When’s the next conference?” The answer…there isn’t one. It was an idea. Not a long term vision. I wanted to try it to see if I liked it. It was not a right fit for this season of my life…so you won’t see another one for a very long time – if ever.
Pray. Map out your visions and ideas and if things don’t work – pray, regroup and try again or try something different. Don’t be afraid to flop.
3.) Work Hard
This is what separates the dreamers from the doers. You can have a ton of passion and vision but if you do not have a work ethic, your vision will go nowhere.
A good leader shows up. They are not allergic to work. They are willing to do whatever it takes to see the vision through. Blogging has required hundreds of late nights with blurry eyes writing and answering emails. I know that some bloggers wonder what the secret is to a successful blog…while most would answer – good content, good images, and good use of social media (and I agree with all of that)…my first thought is – you have to be a hard worker. You have to show up over and over and over and while other people may be enjoying some free time, that is not a luxury that a leader always has.
Leading is a sacrifice. And don’t forget, those who help you with your ministry or event are sacrificing too! They are counting on you to show up and come through. They will not enjoy working with a leader who is lazy and it is painfully obvious when a leader is simply delegating and taking all the credit. Work hard to the glory of God!
4.) Take Risks
As we follow our passion, create a vision and begin to work hard, we will come to road blocks. Uncertainty will inevitably rise. No one can see the future or predict if the plan on paper actually works in real life so there will be risks to take. A strong leader takes calculated risks. They are discerning, apply wisdom and seek Godly counsel…and after prayer, they step out from the pack and take a leap of faith.
I have yet to regret any risks I’ve taken in ministry. Some failed and taught me good life lessons and others soared and God gets all the glory.
5.) Be Humble
After you follow your passion, create a vision, work hard and take risks – sometimes a ministry finds its footing and does well. May we always remember who we are in God’s eyes…sinners saved by grace who live for God’s glory alone.
A prideful spirit can lead to destruction. (Proverbs 16:18) We’ve all seen the fall of great ministry leaders because they lost their integrity. Pride is the beginning of the end, for a good leader. Always keep your guard up against this temptation.
There’s an old quote that says “Don’t let people’s compliments get to your head and don’t let their criticism get your heart.” This is very true in ministry.
6.) Multiply
A good leader will follow their passion, create a vision, work hard, take risks and stay humble- to the glory of God. But it doesn’t stop there – a great leader multiplies. They mentor others and openly share their wisdom. They give other people a chance to learn the ropes. They train and equip other leaders for God’s kingdom.
“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Keep leading to the glory of God!
Walk with the King,
Courtney
**Chime In**
Which attribute comes easiest to you? Which one is the hardest for you?
This list is not comprehensive. What other attributes would you add to this list?
Courtney … I love this list you’ve pulled together.
I’d like to add A Zero Tolerance for Gossip
http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-zero-tolerance-for-gossip.html
Especially under the guise of prayer requests. Idle slander can destroy our relationships, our leadership, our churches.
God have mercy …
Guilty as charged, I fear.
I agree, Linda.
Great point. This spoke loudly to my heart. The more my ministry thrives the more people share their hearts. I am often tempted, in the guise of help, to share one story with another with a similar story. But I must tread lightly and not cross the line of confidentiality.
God tolerates my mistakes. I think people need a friend not a judge. That may be good for you, but some are weak. So u are just going to rule them out, cast them out …
Bc the are weak, what kinda shepherd r u Linda? Accept those who are weak and mess up!
I am new to this. How does this work?
I agree
Hi Carla and Crystal – Do you mean – How Does Good Morning Girls work?
You will find all of this week’s Bible reading resources here: https://womenlivingwell.org/2015/01/good-morning-girls-resources-exodus-11-15/
After you read that post – look for the video on the sidebar that further explains the Bible Study Methods we use here – they are completely optional but you might find them beneficial.
Then on Fridays – it’s Fellowshipping Friday here, so I invite you to chime in and share what you have learned this week in your quiet times in the comments there.
Hope you will join us!
Lots of Love,
Courtney
I love this list Courtney. I have more things to learn. I will apply this in my work too.
Thank you for poring out your heart here. God bless you.
http://purposefulandmeaningful.blogspot.com/
Thank you. I opened my email this morning to read the discussion question for Exodus 13 and ended up reading this. God is amazing. Taking time to read these attributes helped me to refocus my spiritual and physical goals, but today, my professional goals (where the goal is always to glorify God). I’m an elementary principal who is overwhelmed by recent events in children’s lives. This “lesson” helped me to “rise above” the “noise” of recent events, where Satan seeks to cripple me. I can’t wait to get to work and love on some “babies”. Thank you.
God bless you in your work! Remember that when you work with children you invest in the future. One of those dear ones may be the next Billy a Graham or Elizabeth Elliot. Have a blessed day!
Thank you for posting this. I am working with college age young adults and our topic right now is how to be a Christian leader and I was looking for something similar to this. These are great conversation starters.
Jamie R, are you using a resource as curriculum? I work with youth and would like to add this topic to our studies.
Courtney, I pray you have just an inkling of how much your leadership and sacrifice is impacting the world. I am so blessed by this study. It was so timely, and God used a Facebook post by Candace Cameron to connect me to it….just what I needed although I didn’t know it at the time. I feel such a sisterhood with these women. I am glad it will take years. I need it. And may God pour out His protection, favor and grace on your family for facilitating it. <3
Thank you so much for this Courtney! I’m 35 and starting all over with school to become a Nurse Practitioner. My amazing husband has pushed me to pursue my dream as well as God’s purpose for me. Even though we both prayed very hard for months (and God opened every door) part of me is terrified! We are a one income household for the next several years plus the time and money this will take, not to mention it’s a very tough course! Aaahhhh!! But I know this isn’t about my strength but the strength of our amazing God! As much as He has shown me through scripture and blessings, it’s hard to completely let go of the fear. My spirit believes in anything but my flesh doubts my faith. I was re-reading proverbs 31 woman this morning (thank you for that also) and now this. You give me strength, encouragement and focus! Thank you so much!! God bless you for all you do 🙂
Ready-to-rock,
Jennifer
Great tips! Love this series, keep it coming!
I definitely know my passion and I am trying to figure out how to do it best.
I agree with following your passion. I think everything about leadership for me flows from there. When I am passionate about something, I’ll have a vision and work hard to pursue it; I’ll share my vision with others and help lead them to it. I think the hardest part for me is taking risks. I worry about the timing and what the results will be. What I need to remember is to trust in God. Thanks for the wonderful reminder and encouragement!
Great list! I find so many leaders forget to do #6 – multiply. We should always be training those around us.
Thank you for encouraging all of us to follow our passion!
#5 I love what Corrie Ten Boom says about complements given to her….she takes each one as a flower and makes a bouquet to give to the Lord…
I love this line – “They give other people a chance to learn the ropes.” I often see leaders that want to hoard their knowledge and not spread it around. Equip others!
Thank you Courtney for sharing this. It was very helpful. Sometimes ministry can be difficult if you don’t have the right support. Please continue to pray for me that I will hear God’s voice to lead the people he has given me. Pray that God will bless me with wisdom and understanding on how to lead them. Pray that my ministry will be fruitful.
Courtney, Thank you so much for sharing these attributes. I have just started branching out to what God has called me to do. I am beginning a blog/website and these are great for me to take and run with. I appreciate the time you spend sharing with us. I will endeavor to do the same for the website I have.
So glad to read you’re in this for the long haul!!You are definitely gifted in this!! Praise God!! What am I passionate about??? Still seeking God about this one…I’m 32…it’s to find it & move it!!! Be a doer…I’m such a dreamer…but no more in Jesus Name!!! 2015 is the year of MOVING!!!
I love this list. I’d also say that a great leader is a great follower of the the Lord and the Holy Spirit’s prompting. We tend to assume that great leadership means being “exceptional” Christians, when in reality, we are all just beggars pointing to the One who gave us bread. Appreciate you, friend.
Love this post, Courtney! I agree with each of the attributes you shared.
Some of these come pretty easily for me… expect the staying humble and multiplying yourself parts. 😉 I feel the Lord graciously working on me in both these areas as a pastor’s wife, mommy, friend, etc.
Thank you for this encouragement!
Oh Courtney…thank you for sharing this. I’ve told you before how your blog saved my marriage. Yours & Sheila Wray Gregoire’s at tolovehonorandvacuum.com
Not gonna lie, bummed that you don’t plan on doing another WLW conference 🙁 I was SO blessed by that conference & I know I wasn’t the only one.
Thank you very much for this timely post. My teenage daughter and I just became the Childhood Leads at our church. I went over this list with her, so we can be better equipped to serve as leaders.
I enjoyed reading your post. You are always so inspirational for me personally. I honestly have not found my passion , I am in college, a wife of 8 years almost and a mother to three kiddos. I pray that with the millions of thing I want to do and try I can not pin point what my passion is.
Amber Pizarro
I’ve had a hard time trying to balance everything. The only thing I know to do is pray about it. I believe God has put me in contact with you. It sounds silly, but I think so. Every time I pray for a certain concern(thought), very specific, I see a message of yours through email or a video of yours will be on FB about that very subject. I believe God has a plan for me. Thank you for all that you share! God bless you!!! 🙂
This list was an awesome answer to prayer and so encouraging. This week God has taught me that I am being used! I am being used in many leadership positions as a wife, mother, leader for our women’s ministry at church and life group. I prayed to God to show me where I can strengthen my leadership skills and how can I magnify Him most as he has placed me in these leadership roles. This was perfect! Writing these down in my journal to pray them over myself and the other women I am in leadership with. Thank you, Courtney, for letting God use you! ❤️
Hi Courtney! You said you were a ‘doer’ and when I was reading this article, I wondered, have you done the MBTI personality test, what’s your profile? Just curious 🙂 As you know many business use the test do decide which roles their employees should go in, leading, creative, the ‘doer’ etc!
Hi Nada,
I have not taken the MBTI – but I have done the DISC test and I’m a high “I” personality type. 😉
Courtney
Great list! I always love your insight on things. Always practical and sound Biblical advice. May God continue to grant you the strength for each opportunity He blesses you with.