Compelled by Compassion
I am convinced that nothing will set a leader apart more than being compelled by compassion. The greatest leader in the history of the world was also the most compassionate. His name is Jesus Christ. His life, words, style, and even tone all captivated masses of people.
We know that many times Jesus was moved with great emotion for the people, no just because they were ill physically, but because He saw their desperate spiritual condition. His compassionate heart drove Him to love people unconditionally and sacrificially.
What it Means to Have Compassion for Others
Compassion is seeing what others see, hearing what others hear, and feeling what others feel. When we are willing to enter into another person’s life and into their pain, we are able to be moved with compassion.
I want to be very clear that having compassion does not eliminate the importance of other great traits of leadership. I am saying that it is:
- Confidence with compassion
- Competence with compassion
- Authority with compassion
- Intensity with compassion
- Follow-through with compassion
- Due diligence with compassion
- Leading with compassion
Forward leadership is not calling for us to dumb down major leadership needs. Forward leadership is calling for a new kind of leader that does each of these and more with great compassion.
What Compassion Can Do for Forward Leaders
Compassion Fuels Passion
Passion is one of the greatest things needed in a leader. We can get everyone worked up through a motivational speech about how they should do something, but we must also care about the. Perhaps there is more truth in this cliché than we may want to admire: “People never care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Compassion Creates Culture
Compassion creates a culture for walking slowly through the crowd, listening intently to what others are saying. This demonstrates an unselfish concern for others—for them personally first, but also for what they do in their job. This kind of compassionate leadership that invests privately into the lives of others creates a capital beyond words or what can be put on a spreadsheet.
Compassion Influences Productivity
A compassionate leader influences the organization to greater productivity. In fact, there can be 10 times greater production when the leader enters into the world of others with great compassion. This really should not surprise us at all. A compassionate leader brings enormous value to their organization.
Jesus Christ modeled this and lived it out on this earth. His compassion for people was the fuel for His disciples to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ globally. Everywhere Jesus went, His compassion created a culture of love and care for others. He loved them, not what they could do for Him.
Today, pray:
“Lord, fill with compassion for other. Allow me to see what others see, hear what others hear, and feel what others feel. Lord, enable me to be moved with compassion.
This is part 5 of a 5-part series about Forward Leaders. To read the other parts, click below:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Senior Pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas for 38 years. He is the author of multiple books, including Forward: Seven Distinguishing Marks for Future Leaders.
