Leadership: Persuading People Towards Shared Objectives and Results
As Zoey walked into the room, everyone quieted and turned their attention to her. Calm, collected, and confident, Zoey addressed the people filling the room. Eagerly, the audience listened as she described the upcoming changes that would affect their organization. After she had addressed the difficult topics, she shared with her listeners the benefits of the changes and detailed specific examples of how they could use this opportunity to their advantage. Surprisingly, the atmosphere of tension slowly transitioned into confidence and trust. By the end of Zoey’s speech, she had a line of people eager to find out how they could actively take part in the changes. Zoey has the God-given gift of persuading people towards shared objectives and results.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. –Romans 12:6-8
What is the Gift of Leadership?
People with this God-inspired gift have a talent for persuading people towards shared objectives in an effort to achieve common goals or results. Interestingly, true leaders do not dictate orders or force their will upon people. They compellingly cast a vision, inspire others to engage with the vision, and shepherd them to achieve the goals of the vision. Great leaders willingly admit that they cannot accomplish their vision alone, and confess that they are not an expert in all areas. Accordingly, they seek to delegate roles as needed. Once a role has been assigned, leaders empower their people rather than micromanage them.
What does the Bible instruct regarding leadership?
Peter, a disciple of Jesus, was very specific in his instructions to the leaders under his authority. Counterintuitively, leaders should have a servant’s heart and be willing to place the needs of others above their own needs.
… I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. -1 Peter 5:1-4
Additionally, Jesus emphasized this same point of servanthood to His disciples. One of the many ways that He demonstrated this was when He washed their feet.
Do you know of anyone that has a gift for persuading people to common objectives and results?
Leaders are often found within roles; such as, pastor, business owner, or head of a not-for-profit organization. Not so obviously, you might also observe this gift in a friend or even a child that has a knack for rallying a group of peers for a specific task or event. When you find a group of people that are motivated to work toward a common cause, it usually isn’t too difficult to find the person responsible for launching the effort; the person with the God-given gift of leadership.
Want to read about other Gifts of Grace from God? Here are links to the gift of prophecy, the gift of serving, the gift of teaching, the gift of exhortation, the gift of mercy, and the gift of giving.