If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know how much I talk about servant leadership. It is one of the primary leadership methods which I try to emulate, plus I believe it is the best way for a leader to serve the common good of their organization by making the individuals within top priority. Many will agree with me that Jesus is the best example of this, and, in fact, He is the ultimate leader across the board. There are many examples of modern leadership styles, traits, and behaviors revealed in the study of Jesus as He lived with and led His followers. These include the charismatic and visionary behaviors of transformational leaders, the transparency of authentic leaders (Northouse, 2013), and the empathy of emotionally intelligent leaders (Goleman,1994). However, if a single leadership behavior is to be identified in the leadership style of Jesus, it must have occurred when he showed himself to be a servant leader, first in the washing of His disciples’ feet in John 13, and ultimately by dying on the cross. As He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, English Standard Version).
It is important to note that in both of these instances Jesus sets a high standard of behavior for future leaders by personally showing the way others should live. Jesus, the ultimate leader, showed leadership by being the ultimate example. He said, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15, ESV), which Atkinson (2014) uses to support his statement, “For anyone aspiring to leadership there is a clear call to servanthood.” Kouzes & Posner explain that the most effective way to show something is truly important is by modeling that behavior (Kouzes & Posner, 2012), which Jesus did, and later, so did the apostle Paul, as noted by Engstrom (1976) when speaking of Paul’s behavior in front of other believers. There are many characteristics of a servant leader, but setting the example is certainly one of the most important, as it goes directly to the servant leader’s priority of investing into the lives of their followers.
Lead well.