By Paul Tripp
Never be seduced by your knowledge, skill, experience, or success as a leader. Those things don’t define who you are or what you need. Leadership has a way of changing who you think you are and what you need and the way you relate to those you’re called to serve. Never allow your position or success change the way you view yourself.
Still a Member of the Body
You must lead with humility and accountability. Remember that what you lead, you don’t own, but what you lead, you need.
Even the most influential leader in the body of Christ is still a member in the body. No position or level of leadership is above the body of Christ. It is dangerous to think or live otherwise.
You are more like the people you lead than unlike them. You share the same needs and the same spiritual dangers.
Commit to Accountability
Your humility gives people the sense that you want to be held accountable. The person who enables a system of accountability to work is the person that is being held accountable. Don’t wait for accountability to happen. Make it happen. Don’t wait for people to pursue you. Ask them to hold you accountable.
Who knows you deeply? Who is willing to help you see things that you need to see? Who have you invited you to do this? If you don’t have someone’s name in mind, then you are already in leadership danger. No matter your leadership capacity or role, you need someone like this to keep you accountable.
Commit yourself to finding moments to specifically confess your needs. Invite people to pursue you. Show humility and honesty in leadership meetings. Attend a small group you don’t lead. Develop a leadership community of grace, not just of achievement. Embrace failure.
Do these things, and you will serve as an example in your ministry and leadership of humility and accountability.
Adapted from Training Pathway: Discipleship. Check out more training videos on Ministry Grid here.
