4 Things Great Leaders Do

1. A leader has a clear recognition of the needs.

The author wrote about a couple where one of the people was always preoccupied. He shared about a wife talking about leaking in the other room and the husband responds with only an, “uh-huh.” He wrote, “It’s remarkable how individuals who have a high level of responsibility often have difficulty relating at the problem level.”

He gave another example of someone who is in the construction business. Yet, he avoids confrontation and says, “Don’t tell me the problems; let’s talk about the good things.”

Good leaders, though, have a clear recognition of the needs.

The best leaders are those who are in constant communication with those that they are leading. It’s difficult to lead if you are not aware of the obstacles or challenges.

2. A leader is personally concerned with the needs.

The author writes about one of the most difficult leadership positions on earth, being a father. He says that it is tragic how many people leave the job of child-rearing to the church. He shares, “The worst kids in the world are the church kids.” The church gets the blame. But it’s not a church problem; it’s a home problem. The church can seldom resurrect what the home consistently puts to death.

Wow. That’s true though. If you have children, it is your responsibility, and honor, to raise them. This happens often and there are many who speak about the way that children, or young adults, are today. The thing is, those people are all being raised by someone. Those people that raised the now adults could have and should have led them differently if they are not satisfied with their current states.

To close this significant factor, he shared what Nehemiah did in verse 4 of the first chapter. Nehemiah stated that he was, “fasting and praying.” The author shares that fasting means to miss a meal for one major purpose: zeroing in on your walk with God. No matter who you are leading, we must remember what is most important at all times and stay aware of the control that we have. Charles Swindoll shares that we are ALL leaders. Anyone with influence is a leader. So, at a minimum, we are the leader of ourselves and we may sometimes be leaders of those around us.

“The higher you are elevated in what the world calls success, the easier it is to fade into theoretical preoccupation and to leave the realistic ‘lesser things’ to work themselves out.” — Charles Swindoll

3. A serious leader goes first to God with the need.

God knows all, He created you, me, and everything. But, we need to seek Him. If we want God’s wisdom and guidance, we often have to ask for it. We need to go to Him and take responsibility for the current position. The important thing is to remember that we can control only what we can control — the rest is up to God.

I plead with you — as you go before God in prayer concerning any unresolved personal conflicts, take the attitude reflected in these words: “Lord, I bring before you these areas where I have caused an irritation. This is my realm of responsibility. I can’t change this other person. But God, I can tell you that this is my part in it; forgive me.”

4. A leader is available to meet the need himself.

There are a few great books on prayer: The Circle Maker, and Drawing the Circle both by Mark Batterson, Transforming Prayer by Daniel Henderson, and while Crazy Love by Francis Chan is not just about prayer, I would add this book to the list also.

Great leaders know that they cannot do anything alone.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African Proverb

He writes, “Leaders in God’s work would do well to remember that principle. Prayer is primary — but not theoretical prayer. Prayer that gets the job done includes the conviction, ‘I’m available, Lord — ready and willing.’”