Does getting things done and moving a group people toward a goal make someone a good leader?

Not necessarily. Adolf Hitler, Suddam Hussein, and many others have achieved goals and motivated large groups of people to get things done. They were effective leaders, but I don’t think we would consider them good leaders. What we are leading people to do matters just as much as being effective in leading them to do it.

Here are some suggestions for being a good leader, not just an effective one.

1. Identify and intentionally lead toward the right purposes and goals. You’re going to go (and lead) toward something, but “something” is not always the best.
2. Help those you’re leading to develop their talents and skills. In other words, help those in your group to also become leaders.
3. Leave the group better than you found it. Don’t make it so dependent on you, that if you walked away it would collapse.
4. Be honest and ethical. In other words, be a Christian in your conduct and attitude.
5. Be a follower. You can’t be a good leader if you can’t follow those leading you.
6. Keep learning. If you think you already have all the answers, you’re falling behind.

Whether it’s your daily life, your job, your family, your ministry at church…being a good leader is important. Whether you’re leading a team of 5 or 5,000, being effective is not enough.  Let it be your goal to be both effective and good.

Pastor Steve Hogg