Incarnational Leadership: Be With Them
Issue #413, December 10, 2025
How does Christmas impact your leadership? The coming of Jesus as a baby changes everything and reshapes the way we lead. Theologians describe the coming of Jesus as the incarnation which means that God stepped into human life. He entered our world, our struggles and our experiences. Matthew describes what would happen like this:
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:21-23, NIV).
The names given to Mary’s child were significant: Jesus and Immanuel. Jesus means savior and Immanual means “God with us.” At Christmas, God entered our world through Jesus. As He did, He demonstrated what incarnational leadership looks like.
Incarnational leadership enters the world of others.
“God with us.” The astounding reality of the Christmas story is that God left the majestic beauty and glory of heaven to enter our broken world through Jesus. What does this mean for our leadership? Leaders have the choice to live in their own world or to enter into the world of those they serve. Many leaders remain aloof and distant, far above those around them. But serving leaders make a conscious choice to practice incarnational leadership—listening, asking questions, and letting go of status barriers. They seek to understand the world that their followers are living in. They enter the world of others.
Incarnational leadership walks with others.
Jesus came to be “God with us.” He would spend much of His life walking dusty roads with His disciples and many others. He provided the gift of His presence and companionship on the journey of life. It was not always easy or convenient, but He walked with others. Many leaders are too busy being great to have time for others. They are focused on their own journey. But serving leaders take time to walk with others. They leave the office and walk down the hall for a conversation. They come off the stage to mingle with the audience. They take a new employee or new member out for lunch to get to know them. They walk with others.
Incarnational leadership meets the needs of others.
The child born at Christmas was named Jesus “because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus came to meet the greatest need humans have—salvation. Only Jesus saves, but we can reflect His heart by seeing the needs of others, caring about them and responding appropriately.
Many leaders are in positions of authority to have their own needs met. They focus on the goals of the organization and see others as means to accomplish that end. But serving leaders see others as people with genuine needs and concerns. They seek to address those needs. Where there is a need for an encouraging word, they provide it. Where there is a need for correction, they offer it. Where there is a financial need they seek to meet it. They meet the needs of others.
This Christmas your presence may be the best present you can give your followers— incarnational leadership that is “with them.”
For further reflection and discussion:
· Where am I tempted to remain in my own leadership bubble? What have I done this week to leave that world and enter the world in which those I lead live daily?
· Would my team say I am walking with them, or distant? What steps could I take this week to walk with one person on my team?
· Does your leadership focus primarily on meeting your own needs or of those you serve? What is one need you can meet today for someone on your team?
· What one incarnational act can I offer to someone this week?
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler |
