Good leaders are good followers

A qualifier as we get started:

 

(This blog is for all of my Christian brothers and sisters who work for someone - at your job - how do you follow your boss or your superiors in a godly way?

Paul writes in Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.")

God calls us to be the best workers we can be for Him.

Now then to what I want to share with you today:

I've heard this said quite a bit recently:  "I am a good leader, I am just not a good follower."

 

Let's unpack that incorrect assumption.

 

Let me summarize some thoughts from John Maxwell on this (and an article from Michael Hyatt):

 

Maxwell says, "If you want to be a great leader, you must first become a great follower."

 

Joshua followed Moses for more than 40 years before he led the children of Israel into the promised land.

 

Elisha served Elijah for then years before he took up his mater's mantle and went on to perform even more miracles.

 

Even Peter followed Jesus for three years (while making a ton of mistakes) - as we will see in the book of Acts 17:6, "turning the world upside down."

 

What does a great follower look like?

 

Hyatt gives us this:

 

They are clear.  

 

They understand their role.  He writes, "You can't be a good follower unless you have clearly identified the leader."

 

While you might be the leader in your marriage (and you should be the spiritual leader of your home), and/or the leader of your children - everyone has a boss - including you.

 

Great followers not only accept this fact but they embrace it.

 

They are obedient. 

 

Hyatt writes that obedience is not a politically correct term, but it is essential.

 

No one should be allowed to give orders who can't obey orders.

 

They are servants.

 

They notice what needs to be done to help the leader accomplish his or her goals.  Then they do it joyfully, without grumbling or complaining.

 

They are humble.

 

Great followers don't make it about them.  They shine the light on the leader.  Hyatt writes, "they make their own boss look good."

 

They are loyal.

 

Great followers never speak ill of their boss in public.  This doesn't mean they can't disagree or even criticize.  It just means they don't do it in public. 

 

Hyatt writes, "Great loyalty leads to private influence."

Gang, let's be the best workers out there - for the Lord.

 

Just a thought for a Thursday.