Character Traits of a Leader volume 1

Hey Jonathan, today I want to write about a few character traits I believe each leader should possess:

1. Courage – It doesn’t take fear to be a leader. It takes courage. Leaders are at the forefront blazing the trail that is to be followed. How can we as leaders cut down the branches and shrubs that protrude into the path we are creating, if we do not have the courage to move forward? It is fear that keeps us in our current position, fear of the unknown. Yet, I say why be afraid of the unknown. It is in the unknown where we are fashioned into something better. We don’t learn the lessons and make the mistakes that produce something better inside of us unless we courageously face the unknown.

2. Teachability – How can we learn if we are not teachable? We must be willing to learn from anyone at any time. We must understand that we can learn from individuals who are less knowledgeable and less experienced than we are. Each one of us has our own talents and gifts given to us by our creator and we can learn from each other if we are willing.

I had a professor in college that told us he listened to a Christian talk radio host every morning with whom my professor disagreed with on 50% of the hosts’ doctrine. Yet, he learned something almost every morning inside the 50% he did agree with. He used this illustration to teach us that we can learn from anyone, even if we don’t agree with them.

3. Relational – Leadership is about people. No matter what organization we are a part of, what product we are trying to sell, what agenda we are trying to accomplish, we will be successful and fulfilled if we learn that leadership is about people. It is not about money, resources, or results even though these things are necessary for us to survive. It is about people. It is about how people feel when they are around us. Do they feel inadequate, beaten down, and stressed? OR Do they feel encouraged? Do they feel empowered to grow and become better? Do they feel taken care of? Do they feel like we care about them or just the task?

4. Confident/Humble – I grouped confident and humble together as one character quality because true humility comes from confidence. I believe true humility is the most misunderstood character quality. Most of us equate humility with diffidence, insecurity and weakness when in reality humility is none of those things and actually the opposite. Humility comes from security and confidence; therefore, producing boldness and strength. Most of us equate confidence with thinking we can do it on our own, or having complete independence which is actually Pride. Confidence is knowing we are completely dependent, but having unhindered trust in who our dependence is on.

We see the perfect picture of confident humility in John 13:3-15. This is where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. We all know the story how Jesus does the job that was usually reserved for servants. In verse 3 -5 it says, “3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.”

First, Jesus knew he had all authority given to him by the Father…Confidence in who He is and where his authority comes from. Second, it says, “…SO he got up…” It was because he had all the authority and power on earth and above that he performed the act of a servant. He humbled himself not because he was weak, but instead, because he was strong. In order to be humble we must be confident in who we are and the strength we posses in Christ. Not confidence in our own abilities, for that is pride. Yet, confident in the strength of our God and the way he desires to use that strength through us.

Pride is thinking we are can do it on our own. Insecurity is believing we can’t do it at all. Humility is knowing we can do it, but only with the help of our God.

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