PERSONAL TRAITS FOR SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP
Leading a company for Christ means to direct, guide or influence staff and stakeholders to fulfil God’s purpose for that business. This requires that those managing such a company must be leaders. The Lord is interested in using his children to demonstrate his Lordship of all things. The Christian business leader therefore should seek to use without wastage God-given resources to achieve the best results. Resources available include money, materials, time and men. Since organisations are built and sustained through the energies set off by men, the leader is the one who leads men by encouraging them to use their abilities to get expected results out of a task assigned to them. In contrast to the world system, the Christian does not seek to exploit but rather to transform men in order that the eternal objectives of God can be achieved.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CHRISTIAN LEADER
The Christian leader in achieving personal and business goals knows that all things are done such that the name of the Lord is exalted and God is glorified. The leader acknowledges that the guidelines for success are based on the word of God wherein he has revealed His eternal principles - Jos. 1:8.
A Christian leader is called to build up the body of Christ as a co-worker and co-builder with Christ - 2 Cor. 6. She is part of the establishment of the government of our Lord Jesus Christ of which there shall be no end. He recognises that everyone is a leader at his own level - the Apostles, Stephen and Phillip - Acts 6:7. She promotes the understanding that God wants his children to prosper in whatsoever they set their hands to according to his will - 3 John 2.
As the Christian leader prospers, she seeks to fulfil God’s expectations of her being a blessing unto others which include children, employees, owners, society, and the Church of Christ. She seeks to provide leadership as a faithful steward of God everywhere in the home, workplace, church, informal groups - Titus 1:7-9; 1 Cor. 4:1-2. Her goal is to develop herself to be Christ-like in all things and to develop others and be a part of the transforming of lives. She therefore nurtures, builds up and expands the scope of others in terms of their knowledge, skills and attitude - consider 1 Cor. 3:5-8 - It is essential to know that it is God who grants the increase.
Through tireless efforts and leading of the Holy Spirit, the Christian leader seeks to disseminate godly values as set in the Bible to his co-workers through motivating them to strive profitably, raising them to transcend self-interest for the cause of Christ and to hunger and thirst for good success through righteousness, e.g., Jesus, Moses and Joshua. He seeks to lead by being a great example. He takes the lead in initiating ideas and then moves people to follow by sharing God’s love. He leads his company to establish and promote the dominion of Christ in the marketplace. By demonstrating the excellence of God in his ministry, becomes a beacon of hope and success to others.
FOUNDATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP
A study of biblical leaders reveals basic criteria for successful leadership which include:-
- Divine Leading - Requires obedience to the Lord.
- Divine Choice - Leadership is entrusted by God to His chosen. He looks at the heart and not the outward appearance.
- Divine Location - The leader succeeds when he is able to understand the specific location - physical, spiritual, and the specific vocation.
- Divine Enablement - Can lead to the acquisition of specific gifts required for success in the calling. On the other hand the Lord raises others to complement him in his areas of weakness - 2 Tim. 2:21.
- Divine Favour - As the leader becomes obedient, his ways are pleasing unto the Lord so he obtains favour and actually grows in favour before God and man. This brings so much honour.
- Divine Promotion - He moves from glory to glory as the Lord blesses him.
- Divine Reward - Blessings, honour, riches, and eternal life.
Case Study
| Leadership Criteria | Moses | Joseph | David | Daniel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divine Choice and Commission | To lead the children of Israel out of captivity. Ex. 3:6-10 | Chosen over eleven other brothers to fulfil God’s purpose of preserving Israel. Gen. 45:7. | Chosen over seven older, more experienced, better looking brothers to be king/prophet over the people of God. | Chosen out of all the princes of Israel to demonstrate the power of Jehovah in a foreign land, |
| Divine Leading | Spoke mouth to mouth with God, saw and ate with God. Ex. 3:12. | Dreams, visions, interpretation, and God miraculously preserved him and prospered him. Gen. 39:2-5 | Led through many trials, persecution, and strong inner strength. | Excellent spirit, dreams, visions, and interpretation. |
| Divine Location | Taken from the palace to the wilderness from where the Lord exalted him and sent him back. | Taken from home to a strange land to prison before arriving at Pharaoh’s court. The Lord was with him everywhere he went. | Taken from Saul’s palace to the wilderness, foreign army till he was made King. | Located in the Babylonian Palace to fulfil God’s purpose of exalting God name there. |
| Divine Enablement | Not eloquent but given Aaron to be his mouthpiece and power to do signs and wonders. Ex. 4:10-17 | Interpretation of visions, dreams and ability to declare God’s counsel. Great understanding. Gen. 40:8-23; 41:1-37. | Song writer, musical, gift of prophecy, love of enemies, wisdom and victory over enemies. | Excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, wisdom and interpreting of dreams. |
| Divine Favour | Before Pharaoh’s daughter, Pharaoh and the children of Israel. Ex. 2:6-10; 4:31. | Before Potiphar, The Prison Governor and Pharaoh. Gen. 39:2-6; 39:21-23. | In the eyes of all Israel, escape from all enemy traps, and sit on the throne of Israel forever through Jesus who is from his line. | With the prince of Eunuchs (Dan. 1:9) with Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. |
| Divine Promotion | Had encounters with the Lord (Ex. 34:17-23) and magnified in the eyes of the people. | Slave boy to prime minister whose word was law and Pharaoh was king but he ruled and governed the land. | Shepherd to Prophet - King. | In captivity rose to be the prime minister and well-sought after in the king’s court. |
| Divine Reward | Long Life, strength all his days, honour before the Israelites and the kings of other lands. Friend of God with great power with God - Deut. 34:7-12. | Glory, honour, fame, power, family restoration and double portion of Jacob’s blessings. | The Lord established for him a house forever. God was faithful to his promise even when David’s children turned away from Jehovah. | Prospered in the land. Glory, honour, favour, divine insight unto the end-times. He will rise to receive his allotted inheritance. |
In all the above examples, it is clear that what set the leader apart was information concerning the past, present and future conditions of life and those of their families and nations. Such information - accurate, precise, profitable, detailed, unchangeable, can only be given by God who knows all things. The successful business leader is one with a prophetic insight who understands not only the happenings of his time, but can read the signs of the time and possesses wisdom to take the most profitable action.
Consider Joseph’s insight into what was required to be done in the years of plenty, the mode of preservation of the grains, disbursement procedure and timing - Gen. 47:13-26. Note that Pharaoh had the information but lacked the understanding and so to him it was not only useless but a source of worry, disquiet and fear. If more management consultants will be led like Joseph, there will be more successful re-engineering efforts. Joseph had a solution - Gen. 41:33-45, 47-57, he advised that Pharaoh to:
- Select a discerning and wise man and set him over Egypt.
- Appoint officers over the land to collect one fifth of all the produce in the seven plenteous years.
- Store up the excess in the good year under the authority of Pharaoh and keep them in cities
- The stored food was Reserve Stock for the years of famine that were to come. This recommendation appears so simple and effective and was accepted. In accepting Joseph’s recommendation, Pharaoh acknowledged that such a one is not only wise but must have the spirit of God in him and therefore the choice fell on Joseph himself.
INGREDIENTS OF SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP
For successful practice of leadership, the leader himself must be a man of good character. Good leadership as a function of character is based on many things considered below. We shall examine two key scriptures:
A careful consideration of both scriptures reveals the following as ingredients for successful leadership.
- Holiness
- Wisdom
- Servanthood
- Faith
HOLINESS
The practice of holiness is based on total obedience to the word of God. 1 Sam. 15:22-23 shows that to obey is better than sacrifice. Integrity must be displayed in word and deed. This involves having a consuming desire to acknowledge and obey God; and a readiness to repent and confess sin. The passages below are relevant:
- 1 Sam. 12:2-5: Samuel testified that he defrauded no man, corrupted no man took no bribe, nor oppressed any.
- 2 Cor. 7:2: Paul said we have wronged no man, corrupted no man.
- Matt. 5:37: Let your yea be yea and your nay nay, anything more is of the devil?
- Prov. 20:7: The just man walketh in his integrity, his children are blessed after him. Holiness is perfected in the fear of the Lord (2 Cor. 7:1) and revealed through clean hands, pure hearts, humility and a bridled tongue. Ps. 24:3-4 states that “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall stand in his holy place. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully.
- Clean Hands: Is ensured through absolute refusal of gifts, bribery and corruption, destruction, murder. Good neighbourliness ensures that we lift our hands to help those in trouble.
Employers are not to defraud their workers: Lev. 19:13: The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee till morning Prov. 14:31: He that oppresseth the poor reproaches his maker but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. Lev. 19:1: Do not lie, steal or deal falsely with one another. Col. 4:1: Master give unto your servant that which is just and equal knowing that you have a master in heaven. Col. 3:8-10: Put on the new man even in business practices. Col. 3:22: Servants obey your masters in the fear of the Lord.
The Christian leader ensures that he owes no man except to love. He pays his taxes and other legal levies promptly even as Christ laid an example in order not to offend (Matt. 17:24-27). He restitutes whenever he is convicted to do so. Eze. 33:15 enjoins us to restore the pledge, give what we have robbed and walk in the statute of life.
Bridled Tongue: The little member of the body is the most difficult to tame (James 3:5-7). Prov. 21:1-6: The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. Eph. 4:29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearer. We must keep away from gossip, grumbling, discouraging others, but encourage and edify. Prov. 12:14: “A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth...” Acts 24:16: And herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and man.
Humility: Not lifting up soul unto vanity. Humility is a trait possessed by the wise. For the Lord resisteth the proud but uplifts the humble. Ps. 22:4: By humility and fear of the Lord are riches honour and life.
He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honour. The righteous leader is honest, impartial and trustworthy, and hates covetousness.
WISDOM
The Bible says in Eccl. 7:12 that wisdom is a defence and money is a defence but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to them that have it. No matter the level of riches or success, wisdom is found of people that seek it. A leader without wisdom becomes a liability and a burden to the followers. Wisdom encompasses a lot of things as detailed below. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. However we are enjoined to get understanding.
Prov. 24:3 states that through wisdom is a house built and by understanding it is established. The Holy Spirit imparts wisdom and so he who seeks to be wise should ask the Holy Spirit who distributes to all as He wills. Daniel had an excellent spirit and as a result possessed wisdom that was greater than all the wise men of Babylon put together. To receive wisdom we must ask. The Leader needs wisdom to deal with employees, competitors, the opposition and his buying and general public.
Fear of the Lord: The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is also to depart from evil. The fear of the Lord gives confidence. (Prov. 14:26).
Prudence: The wise is prudent in speech, action, consumption, display of wealth and even knowledge. The wise is slow to wrath and to condemn. Prov. 8:12: I wisdom dwell with prudence Prov. 12:23: A prudent man conceals knowledge but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. Prov. 18:8: The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way but the folly of fools is deceit. Prov. 15:18: A wrathful man stirs strife but he that is slow to anger appeases strife. Prov. 16:21: The wise in heart shall be called prudent and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
Diligence: It is through diligence of the leader that the vision is actualised successfully. No matter the anointing on the man, unless he goes forward most of the gifts are not activated. Prov. 20:13: Love not sleep lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. Prov. 27:23: Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks and look well to thy herds. The diligent always pauses to take stock and to device new ways appropriate to reaching his goal. Prov. 10:4: He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Prov. 12:24: The hand of the diligent shall bear rule but the slothful shall be under rule. Prov. 13:4: The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Prov. 21:5: The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness but of every one that is hasty only to want. Prov. 22:29: Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before Kings, he shall not stand before mean men. 2 Pet. 1:5-9: Diligence enables us to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love so that we can be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Patience: The good leader on hearing the word (or having a vision), with an honest and good heart keeps it and brings forth fruit with patience (Lk. 8:15). Many times, success is lost through impatience. Patience is made possible due to confidence in the Lord bringing to pass what he has spoken.
Heb. 10:34-35 states “Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise.”
Psalm 27:13-14 states that “I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Considerate: An inconsiderate leader denies himself and the followers the benefit of the Lord’s total victory over their enemies. For example, Saul distressed his people in their fight against the Philistines by ordering that no man should eat anything, Jonathan unknowingly ate and was refreshed. The Israelites would have had a greater slaughter of their enemies (1 Sam. 14:24-31) if they had eaten and had strength to fight. Jesus was an example of a considerate leader who would not send away the multitude tired and hungry but by faith and thanksgiving multiplied a little boy’s lunch to feed multitudes.
Trust: Wisdom displayed by a leader inspires the trust of the followers and every other person. By God-inspired wisdom Joseph and Daniel subdued kingdoms because the Kings trusted them that the Lord was with them, their personal integrity and their ability to judge rightly and their gift of administration.
Discretion: Prov. 19:11 states the discretion of a man deferent his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. It is the strength of a leader not to punish all transgressions but to show discretion in the use of his authority.
Faithfulness: Unless we are faithful in small things, bigger things will not be committed into our hands (Lk. 16:10-12). When we serve another man diligently and faithfully God blesses and gives us our own. With the same measure that we give shall we receive.
SERVANTHOOD
The Christian leader must have a servant’s heart. This truth runs through the scriptures and can be seen in the lives of those whom God used mightily. Many had to be humbled through being personal servants of others, e.g., Joshua, Elisha. 1 Kings 12:7 states “And they spake unto him saying, if thou will be a servant unto this people this day and wilt serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.” This word of wisdom spoken to Rehoboam by the wise old men was rejected at his own peril.
Service: Serving people is impossible without love. The shepherd loves the sheep and lays down his life for the sheep. Service denotes doing all you can to uplift the people through offering a product or service that really benefits the people and pouring yourself into the lives of the led in doing everything to improve their lot, and to motivate them.
Answer: The leader must have answers to the questions of the led. This presupposes that he has information that the led do not have. He therefore must seek information by staying close to God who knows all things and is the revealer of secrets. The Lord also ensures that his word does not fall to the ground. Moses and Joshua had an answer for the people. The leader needs the ability to hear from God. When the Lord favours you even your competitors want to hear what you have to say. The leader is a problem-solver, only because he has thought through the problem and has a proposed solution that works.
Good Words: Communication is an essential part of leadership. The spirit behind communication is however important. Even correction and reproof is to be offered in love. The manner of presentation, countenance, intonation of voice all matter in communication. “By wisdom is a house built but a forward mouth can destroy everything.” This means that the leader must be seen to be impartial in his dealings with the led. He must discourage gossip, grumbling but encourage and edify the led. The leader’s words must be seasoned with salt as the words of the wise.
Stewardship: Closely associated with servant hood is stewardship. The leader is accountable as a steward unto God. Lk. 12:41-48 shows that the faithful and wise steward who was made ruler of the Lord’s household is rewarded only if:
- He has given the servants their meat in due season. This includes both physical and spiritual food. Wages and benefits must be given promptly but so must the word of the Lord to the led without fear.
- He waits in readiness for his master’s return - he is always ready to give account and so is not in torment while waiting.
- He is diligent in following the master’s instructions.
- The steward will get a just reward. The unfaithful steward shall be beaten with many stripes for knowing his master’s will and not doing it while the faithful steward will be served by the master himself on his return.
Lk. 16:11 shows that if a man is not faithful in matters concerning money, true riches cannot be committed to such a person by God. Leaders must be accountable for resources placed in their care (men, materials, money and time) and must do all things like men who will give account. 1 Cor. 5:2 says moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
Jesus taught that unlike the Gentiles who lord it over the people, a great Christian leader must be a servant to all. This is the core of Christian leadership, that the leader must have a servant’s heart. We are not to lord it over God’s inheritance but to serve with a true heart of humility. (Mk. 10:40-45). Jesus taught humility by good example; he washed the feet of the disciples and commanded them to do the same. Is. 57:17 states “I dwell in the high and holy place with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Submission to Authority: There are leaders at every level. We must submit to those in authority for they are appointed by God. Resisting means that we are resisting the ordinance of God and that brings judgment. We must be subject not only for wrath’s sake but for conscience sake. We must love, fear, honour those in authority. Indeed love is the fulfilment of the law.
A good passage to read is Romans 13:1-7: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
FAITH
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report (Heb. 11:1-2). Whatsoever is seen is no longer hoped for. By faith the leader sees beyond the present. He sees in the spirit as granted by God-inspired vision and thereby empowers his followers to be more than they presently are. In the same vein he moves forward by faith trusting in Him who had spoken as being able to bring to pass that which He had spoken.
Faith is demonstrated in calling those things that be not as though they were (Rom. 4:17). Faith does not dwell on the present condition of things but the promise of God as received in a place of waiting upon the Lord. Abraham considered that his body was dead and that it was no longer with Sarah as it was with women but believing God his faith was counted to him as righteousness for he had a testimony that he pleased God. Now without faith, it is impossible to please God even in our businesses. Why many have failed in business today is not because the enemy is resisting them, or the harsh economic climate but unbelief which is the opposite of faith. Joseph had faith in the word of God to continue to gather surplus food in barns for seven years even though there was no sign of a coming famine. He was justified when the famine came.
Faith is being fully persuaded in God and his ability to provide, protect and promote once we are obedient. Faith in God is faith in His word, we hear it, see it come to pass, believe it, do as it commands and confess it until we see physically what has been promised. Faith in God must make us to lay aside every weight that does beset in the business environment, every short cut, and corner-cutting schemes. On the other hand, we must run the race of Christ in the marketplace with patience while looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Faith in God makes us to resist sin striving against it in every area. Shadrak, Meshack and Abednego had faith in their God until they were in the furnace. As a result of Daniel’s steadfastness, King Darius prayed “may your God whom you serve continually rescue you” (Dan. 6:16). He went home and was unable to sleep until morning when he rushed to find out that Daniel had been delivered from the lions. By this account Darius proclaimed that the God of Daniel must be feared and reverenced. In addition, Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and even Cyrus the Persian. Faith in God makes the leader into an excellent person.
Excellence: Prov. 17:27 - “Do not go to war of words with your adversaries. He that has knowledge spares his words, a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” In order to excel in business we need the excellent spirit. In life of Daniel we find keys to excellence. King Darius appointed 120 princes to rule throughout the kingdom with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel was preferred over the other presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him.
- Daniel was dependent on God. He heard from God and obeyed without fear.
- He trusted totally in the Lord.
- He was a true witness to the power of his God.
- He was faithful for no error was found in him even though out of envy the other princes planned against him.
- He was consistent even in the face of problems and troubles.
- He had a good report with the heathen Kings - Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus.
- He was ready to face the consequences but believed God to deliver him from all his troubles.
It is interesting to note that nowhere was Daniel found to be engaged in a war of words with his adversary but by demonstration of the power of God his enemies were silenced forever. Daniel should challenge us all.
The lack of excellence can however be due to a curse. Reuben was cursed in Gen. 49:3-4. “Reuben, thou art my first born, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power: unstable as water, thou shalt not excel, because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed then defiledest thou it: he went up to my couch.”
There is nothing that we do that will not bring a reward. Reuben probably thought he got away with defiling his father’s bed but at the end of the day he was cursed. Even though as first born he should have had a double portion of the father’s inheritance and should have excelled among his brethren, he got a curse. Let us examine our ways, Jacob was not to blame, Reuben attracted a curse. By this singular act, he committed generations unborn to a curse.