All the Baptized are Leaders

Who a Leader is

• A leader has followers. A title or position, wearing a suit or being loud doesn't make you a leader. When you move and bring others with you, you are a leader.
• People follow people, not ideas or issues. They follow because you know them and what they care about. They follow because you invited them to do something you both care about.
• Jesus has followers. Jesus grows followers into leaders. “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”

What a Leader Does

• A leader grows relationships. They exercise an intentional, disciplined, spiritual practice of listening to other people. They listen for others’ values, motivations, and talents and for opportunities to work together based on shared interests. They go deep. Ask, “Why?” Want to hear the stories behind the answers.
• A leader invites others in. Their invitations are planned and purposeful, rooted in their relationship with the other person and the other person's self-interests. A leader is specific about the role, activity, and time commitment. A leader grows teams.
• A leader invests in themselves growing as a leader. They invest in training. They grow their courage by taking risks. They want other leaders to hold them accountable to their values and goals. They do the same for others, knowing it's an act of love.

Leaders get real about getting things done 

• A leader learns from Mary and Martha. Martha was busy, busy and resented that Mary, sitting at Jesus’s feet and listening, wasn't helping her. “Mary has chosen the better part,” Jesus said. Listening to others – with prayer, worship and Bible reading – ensures you do the right things, in the right way, together with God and others and not alone. 
• You don't have time not to grow relationships. Working harder, faster, smarter is inherently limiting. You multiply your power – your time, your energy – by growing relationships and teams. You also multiply joy. Alone goes fast. Together goes far.
• “I'm more powerful when you're more powerful.” Leaders live this corrective to the prevailing lone ranger or “great man” view of leadership. “Winners make losers, but leaders make leaders.” Invest in God, invest in others, invest in self. It's a recipe for abundance.

Leaders live“the priesthood of all believers”

• Because you are baptized, you are a leader. Jesus now dwells within you deeply, washing away your doubts and excuses, sending you to show up where it matters without knowing how it will turn out.
• God gave you a pulpit, a basin of water, a table of plenty – gifts and opportunities to gather others around grace, healing, and the good news of Jesus.
• “If you know these things,” Jesus said, “you're blessed if you do them.” What would change if you acted more like the leader you are? What small but potent step is yours to take now?