Growing in leadership is almost completely dependent on growing in learning. If you want to be a good leader, you have to be ready at all times to be a faithful learner.

Taking on the great privilege and huge responsibility of being a leader at home, at work, in ministry or in community calls for us to have hearts ready and open always to take in new insight, new skills and new ideas that will take us to the next level of leadership.

We learn in many ways -- through conferences, seminars, books and blogs -- but nothing beats the constant inspiration that comes through the Spirit of God when we hear His Word and His instruction, and following the Biblical example that Jesus set for us and the apostles. The Bible teaches us various skills that must be imparted to us through the training of more experienced leaders and the empowerment that comes from a fresh encounter with God.

Here are four of the most important skills that leaders must master to fulfil the call that God has for them as leaders.

Duplicity

The world wants you to believe that being selfish in terms of knowledge and skills establishes our position as leaders. If you want to be at the top, you have to deprive the bottom of resources that will bring them to your level. God teaches us otherwise because it's not about how many followers remain followers, but how many of them step up and evolve into leaders.

2 Timothy 2:2 says "...and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." The goal of leadership is not to build a following but build a cohesive team of next-generation leaders.

Delegation

As we are instructed to "...entrust to faithful men..." the impartation and instruction that will turn them into Spirit-empowered and mighty leaders, we are actually called to trust them. Delegation doesn't simply involve giving instructions and imposing consequences if expectations are not met. It actually calls that we pass on trust and empower others by giving them the resources and ability to fulfill greater feats.

Death to self

Jesus tells us in Mark 9:35, "And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, 'If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.'" Leadership is a call to die to the self more and more and put the needs of others first. That's why Jesus's leadership was so radical -- because He put others first even if it meant having to die on a cross to set sinners free even if we don't deserve it.

Discipline

Paul stresses in Titus 1:8 that ministry leaders are to be "...hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined." The level of physical, spiritual, emotional discipline that a leader has could make or break them. When we progressively grow in the area of discipline, we set ourselves up to be used more and more for God's greater glory.