Why becoming less makes the leader greater

Ken Gosnell March 3, 2020

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The best leaders must learn to step back to step forward. To lead well, leaders must learn how to follow well. 

The leader who practices stewardship is intentional about learning to lead by following. John the Baptist was a bold, outspoken leader who had developed a robust following. 

However, during his ministry, John becomes aware that Jesus, the Messiah, has come to Earth as He promised He would. When John understands who Jesus is, he makes the simple but profound statement found in John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less.” 

Experience question: How do the words of John the Baptist apply to CEOs and leaders of the 21st century? 

Although John’s statement was personal to him and his ministry, these words can also guide a CEO and leader to develop a spirit of followership in their life. Through this verse, God could be asking leaders to examine a few areas where God should become greater, and the leader should become less.

1. God’s purpose must become greater and the purpose of the leader must become less.

John the Baptist was a man of passion and purpose. His purpose was to prepare the way for the One who was yet to come (see John 3:2). 

He had a keen understanding of the position of his purpose. He knew that after him, something greater was coming. Every biblical leader should have the same mentality about their life’s work. What they do is important, but it is only meant to prepare for something (and Someone) greater. 

God will build on the efforts of the leader to make a more significant impact for His Kingdom and His purposes. It is wise and fruitful to understand that God’s purpose is more important than the purposes that have been created in the minds of men. 

God’s purpose is more important than the purposes that have been created in the minds of men.

2. God’s plan must become greater and the plan of the leader must become less. 

Every successful leader has a plan. They strategize about the future and think about where they are going and trying to lead their organization. However, God’s plans are always better than the plans of man. Psalm 33:10–11 states, “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” 

The plans of God stand forever. Therefore the plan of God must become greater in the life of every biblical leader.

  “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” ~Psalm 33:11

3. God’s power must become greater and the power of the leader must become less.

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist shares his view of himself in comparison with how he viewed Jesus: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John declares that he is not even fit to carry the sandals of Jesus. 

John is not feigning humility, but rather is accurately stating his comparison to the power of Jesus. John’s followers believed him to be powerful. They perceived power in how he preached the message of repentance and his level of commitment to bringing salvation to his people. But John knew that his power was nothing compared to the incomparable power of God. 

Christian leaders, who aspire to lead well, will be wise to make a similar statement as the one who led before Jesus. The statement on the lips of every wise leader are the words He must become greater and I must become less.   

Photo source: istock 

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Ken Gosnell is CEO and Servant Leader of CXP (CEO Experience). CXP is a premier coaching and executive roundtable business that serves Christian CEOs in Washington DC, Maryland and Florida. Ken serves leaders by helping them and their teams to have great experiences that both transform the leader and their organizations to go further faster. Learn More »

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