Leaders leave people better

Richard Blackaby Sept. 5, 2019

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Leaders improve people’s lives. People ought to weep when their leader leaves. And they will, if their leader has invested in them. Leaders don’t lead organizations; they lead people. Genuine leaders love the people they lead, and they want what’s best for them. False leaders use people to accomplish their goals. True leaders bless them and help them grow.

While I was a seminary president, I strived to develop my staff’s leadership skills. I helped pay for several of our staff to receive further training and education. I encouraged the staff to assume greater responsibilities. I met with them regularly to offer encouragement. 

Some of them eventually leveraged their new skills and leadership abilities and moved on to higher positions in other organizations. Was I upset? No, I truly wanted what was best for them. Others stayed and continued to provide outstanding leadership to that school.

I recently returned to the two cities where I served as a pastor and seminary president. I left my church 26 years ago and the seminary 13 years ago. In both places, I met with people I used to lead. Many have followed my life and family on social media. It was a homecoming among friends. We laughed and reminisced about old times. 

That emotional experience reminded me that I had not merely been doing a job; I had been loving and investing in people. Successful leaders leave a trail of grateful people in their wake as they intentionally bless those who are under their care.

This list isn’t exhaustive. If you want to go into more depth, check out Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda, a book I co-authored with my father, Henry Blackaby. This post looks only at leaders’ fundamental roles. If you are not doing these three things, you are not ready to do what comes after.

Remember, leaders solve problems. Rather than worrying that God might call you to deliver a Churchillian speech before parliament or lead your soldiers into the barrage of a Napoleonic cannonade, look around and find something you could make a little bit better. Then do it. 

In time, you may accomplish far more than you bargained for and you might just find that you enjoy leading very much.

Photo source: istock 

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Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More »

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