5 Tips to Developing Christian Leadership

In a world where there are many different types of leaders, Christians are called to lead others through service, no matter their title. While being a successful leader in any capacity takes careful thought, maturity, commitment to personal and professional growth, and a certain level of courage, being a Christian leader asks for much more of those in leadership roles. 

So how exactly does one become the best leader they can be? Here are 5 tips to developing Christian leadership skills. 

Tip #1 Embrace Humility

Jesus demonstrated ultimate humility throughout his ministry on Earth. He lived a simple life and, although he easily could have, he never elevated himself above others. Multiple examples in the Bible show us that people from all walks of life felt comfortable approaching him. 

In addition to our calling as Christians to follow the example of Jesus in everything we do, research shows we should be cultivating humility for another reason: it works. Several studies have demonstrated that a humble approach to leadership actually gets better performance out of employees. 

The Journal of Management revealed in a survey that humility in CEOs led to higher-performing leadership teams, increased collaboration and cooperation, and flexibility in developing strategies. Administrative Science Quarterly also published research that showed traits associated with humility, like soliciting feedback and focusing on employee needs, generated higher levels of engagement and job performance from direct reports. 

To cultivate humble habits, focus on and talk about the similarities you have with those you serve and lead. Solicit feedback from people you lead and listen to what they have to say. Make sure that you take time to acknowledge the hard work of those around you. 

Many leaders are happy to take full credit for something their team has accomplished, but the Christian leader recognizes that each individual person plays an important role in success. Also, consider your habits and your body language. Ask yourself how you might remove any barriers that may make others uncomfortable so you can be more approachable and connected to your team. 

Tip #2 Lead with Love

Seeing the people you lead as children of God is crucial to being a successful Christian leader. Everything Jesus did came from a place of love. Even when he turned cultural expectations upside-down and called out hypocrisy, it was to serve the ultimate purpose of redemption and relationship with God.

Each of the people you lead is worthy of being loved and deserves to be treated well. Even when there are tough conversations to be had, approach them from a place of love and kindness. You can also make sure you’re praying for those around you. By investing time and attention in those you lead, you are communicating to them that they’re valuable to you and building trust, which is an important piece of servant leadership.

Tip #3 Communicate Clearly

When communicating with others, it’s important to realize that being clear is a form of kindness. Sometimes, well-meaning leaders fail to communicate clearly because they don’t come out and directly say what they need or want. Even though the intention may be to avoid hurting feelings or stepping on toes, this often causes frustration. The most effective leaders are both straightforward and kind.

Communicating clearly is an important part of maintaining integrity and honesty, which we are all called to as believers:

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” (Prov. 10:9)

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:25)

If you want someone to do something a specific way, make it easy for them to understand what you want. Instead of saying, “Hey, can you send over those files we talked about last week whenever you get a chance?” try saying, “Hey, I need the Johnson file and the Kasey file. Could you please send those over right away?”

It’s also important to remember that communication is a two-way street. No matter how well you feel that you have made your point, it’s very helpful to get into the habit of making sure your message has been interpreted correctly. Consider modeling two-way communication by saying things like, “Just to make sure we’re on the same page, you want X done by Y and with Z, right?” By setting this example, others around you will pick up on the value of two-way communication and begin to use it as well.

Tip #4 Practice Servant Leadership

Often, a leader is someone who stands in power above everyone else; however, Jesus showed us that there is a different way – servant leadership. He modeled serving His disciples as He invested in and walked alongside each of them, practicing patience and forgiveness in every circumstance. He also modeled it for those who were not his followers, offering them care for their physical and spiritual needs by performing miracles, providing food and drink, and ultimately sacrificing Himself for the entire world.

While Jesus was the Son of God and fully divine, He was also fully man and had human needs. The Bible tells us multiple times that Jesus needed to rest (John 4:5-6, Matthew 8:23-24, Mark 6:31, etc.) As Christian leaders, it can be tempting to give of ourselves until there is nothing left, but taking time to rest and prioritizing physical health not only demonstrates care for yourself as God’s creation, but also sets a positive example for others. 

Want help taking care of the health care needs of your employees? Medi-Share has great health care sharing options made for you and your team. 

Tip #5 Continue to Seek God’s Guidance

In Proverbs chapter 16 we read that, “The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD …. Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established…. A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” 

Jesus modeled this for us well, often drawing away from the crowds to spend time with God and seek His guidance – even until the night He was betrayed. Jesus sought God first in the face of an excruciating calling. Though He fully felt the anguish of what He was about to do, He still asked for God’s will to be done.

No matter what we are facing, as a leader, it’s important to continually seek God’s guidance through prayer and studying Scripture. There are also many ways to seek God’s guidance through wise counsel in Christian community, including surrounding yourself with people (pastors, friends, podcasters, authors, etc.) who have also dedicated their lives to serving God through serving others.  

Living out Christ-like Leadership

More than anything, remember Matthew 22:35-40. Here, Jesus commanded us to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. As a leader, it’s important to remember that the integrity of your actions and the way you treat people is directly tied to your strength as a leader. 

Leading with humility and integrity is counter-cultural in today’s world. If you are honest when no one is looking, honor your spouse and family even when they’re not around, and go out of your way to love others, the purpose behind your behavior will be clear. Because of that, those you are leading will see God working through your life and be inspired to follow alongside you.