Where is Christ in your Leadership Skills?

In today's corporate environment, the need to lead like Christ is more important than ever. Quick pace decisions, changing priorities, and budgets that are impacted by the recession have everyone scrambling to maintain some semblance of order.

So, what does a Christ-like leader look like. I am glad you asked. Even the most Godly people you know will struggle under today's job pressures. I will be the first to admit that some days, it would be easier to just not care. I am so glad that Jesus never reached that point. He cared so much that not only did He lead, He paid the ultimate price with His death. So here are three traits that I strive for in my leadership, in what I hope is my Christ-like leadership.

First, always maintain your integrity. You are ALWAYS responsible for your response in any situation. If your boss is demanding and unreasonable, you are still responsible for how you respond - with integrity. If your boss asks you do to something that you feel is unethical, you are still responsible for your response. God willing, you can find a way to respond with integrity that also does not impact your job status. Integrity is your one characteristic that someone cannot take from you - you have to give it. I am not saying this is easy! Fear of retribution or losing your job make the stakes very high. Christ maintained His integrity through out His life. His word was His promise.

Second, listen first; speak last. The more you understand about a person or situation, the better prepared you are to lead. You will deepen relationships and gain creditibilty. In John Maxwell's book "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership", he calls it the law of E. F. Hutton; when you speak, people listen. This is because you have earned the creditibilty that you listen and then offer sound advice.

Third, it's all about relationships. I have heard the antecdote a thousand times; People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. People need to know that they are important. I spend a great deal of time at my job. I want to have an environment that empowers people, motivates them to excel, and to strive for success. That cannot happen if you don't know what makes them "tick". If you pour yourself into the people, you will be amazed at the support you will receive.