Pillar No 4 of the 12 Pillars of Leadership – Humility Strengthens Leadership
This may seem to be a paradox, but it is true that people will respect and follow a humble leadership long before they will respect a proud one.
Notice, I left out the word “follow” in the comparison above. Why?
Many folk may “follow” a proud leader out of necessity because the “leader” happens to be placed in charge of the group or activity they are a part of. BUT ..
Proud leaders will not have the loyalty and
respect (heart following) that humble leaders have.
Let’s consider some comparisons between a proud person and a humble person.
A proud person tends to be less compassionate.
A humble person tends to be more sensitive to the feelings of others.
Lack of compassion is of course a lack of love (which we considered in the last article). Remember, we are all human. There are times when we all need a little special encouragement, or perhaps we are going through an especially difficult time in life.
When you are facing difficult moments, do you REALLY respect a “leader” who is totally insensitive to where you are at?
A proud person is usually more difficult to approach.
A humble person is more “personable” and easier to approach.
Which of these two do you tend to respect more? If you are in leadership, do you notice that your “followers” find it easy to come to you with any comments, suggestions or problems? Or do you notice that they tend to be rather aloof?
A proud person is usually focused on being the very best, at the cost of those around them.
A humble person is not threatened if their “followers” are more successful, or better at a task than they are.
This is often a tough one for leaders. Are you threatened by the success of your followers? What if they are enjoying MORE success than you are?
One of the things that I admired and respected about the pastor who sent me out to the mission field.
He was able to rejoice when those he was training actually rose to greater heights than he perhaps ever would.
Just yesterday I was speaking to a friend who is a pastor in Mexico. This young man (who is like a son to me) is experiencing some amazing victories, triumphs and miracles in provision at this moment. So much is happening all at once that he and his group are on “cloud nine”!
One of his leaders (whom he trained and released to begin a church in a nearby village) made the following comment:
“It is because you were never envious of us that now you are experiencing these miracles. “
This comment was made because this young man’s church is growing twice as fast as the “main” church. He has a better car than his leader, a better home etc. Yet John was always able to rejoice with his “disciples” in the blessings that were going their way.
Now it is John’s turn – and all I can say is WOW.
Can you train your followers to be better than you? It takes true humility to do that.
It is SO much easier to follow a leader who is humble, approachable, open to ideas even correction.
Don’t ever forget it is:
