Corporate leadership today comes with a lot of perks—high compensation, company-paid trips, big offices and so much more. Sometimes the perks can become the motivation for people to want leadership, only to find little satisfaction if they do reach it and frustration when they don't.
Leadership was never meant to be about the benefits of leading. Sure leadership roles can be rewarding. But unless leaders look first to serving before receiving various rewards, they will miss the point.
Leadership Thrives in Service Not Prestige
The best example of leadership would have to be no less than Jesus Himself, and the way he lead was by means of serving. Servant leadership started with Jesus. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, dined with sinners and even washed His own disciples' feet. People who love to serve will more likely end up being people who lead.
In the same way, Jesus urges us to lead the same way He did. In Mark 9:35, Jesus says, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
We best influence others when we lead them by meeting their needs instead of leading them to have others meet our needs.
Leaders Are the Last to Go for the Perks
If Jesus were the kind of leader who wanted the perks, He would have chosen being born in a palace instead of in a manger. If Jesus just went for benefits, He would have chosen to be a son of a businessman, general or king instead of being a son of a carpenter.
But Jesus did not go for the perks. In fact, many times He denied it. He lived not on bread alone but on the Word of God. He was driven by compassion and not coercion. If we were to apply that into our leadership, we take one step into Christ-likeness and more effective leadership.
Service Builds More Influence
It's hard to follow leaders who only meet their own interests, but a leader driven by a shared vision and inclined towards sharing honour and glory with others will easily earn the trust and influence of others.
We need leaders who will not build position or power, but positive influence over people who are in need of good leadership. Companies, organisations, homes and churches need these leaders.
Jesus empowers us by setting the example for us. We can either walk in our own selfish ways or imitate Christ's faith and life by pursuing the needs of others and denying the self for the sake of the vision and crowds.
