Issue #5, April 24, 2009
Servant leaders influence others by modeling the way. Leadership is more about showing than it is about telling and those who model the way shape lives. Think of those we call ‘role models’ from the media or sports. Their actions influence millions, for good or for bad. Paul’s life is a great example of a servant leader who modeled the way. He said boldly, Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1)
Paul modeled by default.
Even without deliberate effort Paul’s life and leadership was a model to others simply because he passionately followed Christ. Paul had a passion to know Christ and to walk in obedience to His call. Servant leaders must first of all be followers of Jesus…at home, in the office, in the marketplace and in ministry. Does the life you live quietly challenge others to be more like Christ?
Paul modeled by design.
Paul not only modeled the way by default, but he deliberately called others to imitate him. “Follow me…” Can you say to those who follow you, “Do what I do…keep accounts like I do, love like I do, give your time like I do, work like I do, love your spouse like I do” etc?
How can we be leaders worth imitating? First work on the inside…then call for others to imitate you.
Take personal inventory.
Carefully examine your own life, especially in the area of character. Use the following questions as a starting point:
- Is there a promise I made in the past month which I have not kept?
- Have I made a mistake for which I have not asked forgiveness?
- Are there ways in which I abuse my authority as a leader?
- Are there secret sins in my life that hinder my effectiveness as a leader?
- How am I growing in my intimacy with Jesus?
- Are there things I ask others to do that I am not willing to do?
- Have I responded in a timely manner to emails, calls or requests from others?
- Do I have any broken relationships which I have not tried to rectify?
- Does my life exhibit more and more of the fruit of the Spirit?
- Do my leadership habits encourage others to be leaders?
Eliminate stumbling blocks.
After taking a personal inventory, identify the areas that most significantly impact your ability to be a model to others. Develop a plan to eliminate these from your life. This may require sharing them with a spouse, good friend or mentor for prayer and accountability. You might find it helpful to memorize Scriptures dealing with the area in which you are working. Set realistic goals and allow the Spirit to work within you to produce change.
Take time to develop consistency.
Be willing to allow God time to work in your life in character as a leader. Consistency does not develop overnight, it is a lifelong process. This does not mean perfection, or none of us would qualify. But even when we fail, our goal should be to model what it means to confess and forsake our sin.
Consciously call others to follow your example.
After we have taken the other steps, we should, like Paul, consciously call others to follow our example. We may feel that this is exalting ourselves above others and certainly, the potential for this exists. But the example of Paul shows that it can be done as an effective form of leadership.
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler
For further reflection and discussion:
- Is your life a model to others right now? If not, what do you need to do to change?
- In what ways should you call others to imitate you?
- Does calling others to imitate you mean that you are proud? Why or why not?