Sometimes when you are put in a leadership position you end up just bossing people around rather than actually being a leader. Having a leadership position doesn’t make a leader though. Building teams, modeling teamwork and inspiring people to work together does. Here are a few tips that may help you be a better leader.

1. Believe in people. Invest in others and see them released into the purposes of God. “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (2 Timothy 2:22).

2. Believe the best of others, and genuinely want what is best for them. Share your knowledge and help others expand their skills sets. “Love bears all things…believes all things looking for the best in each one…” (1 Corinthians 13:7, AMP).

3. Give people room to grow. God is about multiplication and reproduction, not containment and limitation. So be committed to promoting and releasing people. “When good people are promoted, everything is great…” (Proverbs 28:12, The Message).

4. Keep the standard high. Demonstrate excellence to your team. Encourage everyone to have a happy countenance and to build one another up. Show them a strong work ethic, high integrity and honor. “Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work” (Colossians 3:22-25, The Message).

5. Challenge your team to think outside the box. Motivate your team to work smarter always thinking of innovative ideas and exploring new approaches. “Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work; Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle” (Ecclesiastes 10:10, The Message).

6. Be the example. Your credibility is your leadership currency. So you must be personally willing to do what you’re requiring of your team. It’s so easy in a world that values self-sufficiency to become isolated and allow others to become isolated. But that’s not God’s model of teamwork. Be the leader who invites others to help you as well. “Keep a sharp eye out for competent men…and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They’ll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they’ll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also” (Exodus 18:17-26, The Message).

7. Celebrate the wins—and then get back to work. Leadership, team building and development all spring from the heart. Keep your heart pure, and celebrate ALL the wins, then refocus on the next level of growth. “Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them” (Philippians 4:4-5, The Message).

God wants us to continually grow as leaders—and inspire growth in others—but to do that, we have to be great leaders who build teams to work together.
Ronne B