To Lead Others, You Must Lead Yourself First.
In Designed to Lead, the authors explain leadership in terms of Christian doctrine. They are not trying to examine the entirety of the Christian doctrines but I think it’s sufficient to show how leadership can be understood in Christian theology.
The doctrine of creation teaches that humans are made in the image of God. And we are bestowed with God’s authority to take care of God’s creation with respect and honor. This way of thinking should allow Christian leaders to treat their followers with respect and honor. Leaders must be compassionate about those whom they lead. Leaders lead as God wants.
The doctrine of the fall states that humans are flawed and sinful. Some might think that the doctrines of creation and the fall contradict each other because on one hand the humans are created good but on the other hand they are sinful. How can that which was created good be evil?
As baffling as it may sound, I think it authentically and truthfully captures the condition of humanity. Humans are so complex and sophisticated that one simply can’t say that humans are either this or the other. I affirm the better response would be saying that humans are both this and that.
In leadership circles, it is true that we witness many good leaders who lead their people well and help them accomplish great success. But it is also true, sadly, that there are many evil leaders who lead their people poorly or, in worse cases, lead them well but abuse and manipulate them for selfish gains.
The doctrine of redemption explains that the dilemma of humanity finds its way in Jesus. It’s a great comfort to realize that any leaders and any types of leadership can be redeemed as they take part in the servant leadership of Jesus. As we get to know more about how Jesus led, loved and served his people, we realize that our own leadership can also lead our people well in our love and service for them.
The doctrine of the glory of God states that the primary purpose of our existence is to glorify the Creator God. Likewise, our leadership mandate should be to make known the glory of God by leading our people to multiply and flourish in God’s created world.
Geiger and Peck put together these Christian doctrines and command leaders to do three tasks. First, they call leaders to reflect God’s glory by growing in their character, which is the ultimate personal development. That is, the first task of any leaders should be to lead themselves internally. Leaders must cultivate their character and private life first and foremost. The second task of leaders is replication. Leaders are not born out of thin air. As leaders, we have an obligation to make leaders. And lastly, leaders must cultivate the world so that their people can thrive and “fill the earth” according to God’s design.
The leadership according to Christian theology begins with the understanding of human beings as having the image of God on the one hand and the innate sinfulness on the other. Leaders can lead their people through their complexities as the leaders are first led by Jesus’ servant leadership. Leaders lead their people to bring glory to God.
“We are not simply here to bear fruit, but to create environments where others, inside and outside the family of God, can be fruitful and can experience the peace of God.”
Conclusion
What this Christian leadership teaches us is that we can’t be a help to anyone until we are first helped by God. We need to first manage ourselves before we can manage others. The wisdom of the day is to lead yourself first before you can lead others.
