Whether you feel you were born to be a leader or not, all of us have been given leadership in some area. Throughout your lifetime you will hold different roles and will change roles depending on the situation. As Christ-centered leaders, our goal is to positively influence others and change lives according to the principles of God's Word.

We are to be women under Christ's guidance and purposely live a life that reflects the values of Jesus. We can show Christ in our workplace and through leadership by being responsible, living life with morals and ethics, acting with integrity and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We can be mindful, value others and learn to listen patiently. We can show optimism, humility and confidence.

No matter the position we are currently in, it is important that we manage our emotions, seek guidance when necessary and ask God for grace when making decisions. We can all show Christ in our leadership. Here are 7 ways we can be purposeful leaders:

Seek God’s Direction.

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 New Living Translation)

There is a purpose for the position and season we are in, tho we may not understand. While we are not in control of circumstances, we are in control of our actions. We can seek Godly wisdom and have faith that He will establish our next steps. We can choose to see beyond challenges and situations at hand and continue heading in the right direction, believing for God’s grace along the way. We know that with leadership comes great responsibility, and we will need God’s guidance in times of conflict or when making tough decisions.

Be Wise, Authentic and Kind.

“From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.” (Proverbs 16:23 NLT)

Trustworthy people naturally have a following because they show themselves to be truthful, compassionate, honest, dependable, and wise. Being smart and sensible makes a good leader persuasive and effective. The best leaders know their strengths, weaknesses, and personality quirks.

Show Humility.

“The greatest among you must be a servant.” (Matthew 23:11 NLT)

A good leader is humble and modest, not arrogant. This scripture shows that humility is a requirement in leadership. The most effective leaders are able to humble themselves to their family, team, congregation, company, etc…

Be Fair and Just.

“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8 NIV)

Living a life of integrity includes being fair and unbiased when making decisions. Being a fair and just leader means we seek understanding when making decisions, treat everyone as equal human beings and respect their dignity. While we may not enjoy conflict, it is important to find the value and look for ways to grow and learn from it. We show ourselves to be considerate and mindful in how our actions can affect others.

Have Christ-Centered Mentors and Allies

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22 NIV)

We all need the right people in our lives. Wise leaders surround themselves with people more gifted and talented than they are, counsel that will pray for them and help them succeed. We need friends and mentors that will help motivate us, encourage us, help us in areas we struggle in and help reach people or goals we cannot reach on our own. Surround yourself with people that are honest, and trustworthy.

Be Committed And Caring Towards Others.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

Great leaders genuinely care about the well-being of others while understanding that the leadership path may be difficult. They can empathize with others, and are committed to investing, growing and mentoring them. Being a Christ-centered leader means seeking to show the same care toward others that Jesus does and to live by His teachings. They are steadfast and bold, yet make sure others know they are cared for and valued.

Be Willing To Learn.

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (Proverbs 1:5 NIV)

Purposeful leadership requires us to be slow to anger, as we continually seek ways to learn, grow and improve. As our positions of leadership change, we will have new things to learn. God is constantly teaching us lessons; we must stay open to His teachings in our lives.

God has placed all of us in a position of leadership, whether it’s in the workplace, church, mission field or home. Our world desperately needs Christ-centered leaders, people who are concerned with changing hearts rather than merely modifying behavior or accomplishing tasks. Leading with service, love, and compassion will not make perfect people, but it can positively change lives for the better.

Scripture References:

Christ Centered Leadership