Earlier this summer Will Willimon (read my review of The Best of Will Willimon: Acting Up in Jesus’ Name – 2012) shared some challenging words for those who seek to be Christian leaders:
I’ve read dozens of books on leadership, have even written a few myself. Books on leadership tend to say, “Here are the personal qualities you must have, here are the skills you must acquire if you want to lead.” In the world, leaders must be omniscient and omnipotent, capable and courageous, competent and creative. Leaders in Jesus’ name must simply be obedient to his, “Follow me.”
So What?
I have read many books (and even more articles and blog posts!) on leadership. I have also been fortunate to learn directly from great leaders. As one who follows the way of Jesus, I cannot be reminded often enough of the centrality of my continual acceptance of and obedience to my response to Jesus’ call to “follow me.”
How does your ongoing affirmative response to Jesus’ call to “follow me” impact your identity and perspective as a leader?