10 Reasons I Admire the Leadership Principles of Jesus
There are many leaders I admire who have influenced my own leadership. I admire the teachings on leadership by guys like John Maxwell and Andy Stanley. There are leaders from my personal life such as a former pastor and another local leader who have influenced me as I have watched their leadership. I also love a great coach, often choosing the teams I support by the coach that leads them. Athletics today is full of coaches I admire.
The principles, however, that I admire most are found in the leadership style of Jesus. A few of His leadership principles that inspire me are:
1. Jesus was willing to invest in people others would have dismissed. Consider the disciples. They were not the “religious” elite, yet Jesus used them to start His church.
2. Jesus released responsibility and ownership in a ministry. Consider how Jesus sent out the disciples on their own and consistently reminded them that He wouldn’t always be with them.
3. Jesus practiced servant leadership better than anyone. The King of kings was willing to wash the feet of His followers.
4. Jesus was focused on the vision. Regardless of the persecutions or distractions, Jesus kept on the mission God had called Him to complete.
5. Jesus handled distractions with grace. When the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years touched His garment, Jesus stopped to heal her, even though headed to a definite purpose.
6. Jesus was into self-development. He said He only did what His Father told Him and He constantly slipped away to spend time with God.
7. Jesus was into leadership development and replacement. He very purposefully prepared His disciples to take over the ministry. I also like the He pushed people beyond what they felt they were capable of doing.
8. He challenged those who followed Him and held them to high expectations; telling the disciples they must be willing to lose everything to follow Him.
9. Jesus cared more about people than about rules and regulations. He was willing to jeopardize Himself personally by breaking the “rules” to help someone in need.
10. Jesus rewarded people generously who were faithful to Him and His cause.
