Leadership Lessons Titus 1:6-10
6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[b] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.
What comes to mind when you think of a leader? Most of us imagine a captivating communicator standing on stage while people hang on to every word. While charisma is important, it’s just one ingredient in the recipe for leadership. If you were to read a book on leadership development, most writers focus heavily on skills— from communication to public speaking to productivity. While all of those things are important, they are just a small piece of the puzzle.
When Paul is listing the characteristics of a good leader, he focuses solely on character (Titus 1:6-10). Character is crucial because it builds trust. Character is crucial because it makes people feel safe with you. Character is crucial because it prevents leadership from going to your head.
Here are practical principles to help you build your character:
• Keep your promises.
• Be honest even when it’s hard.
• Boldly do what’s right.
• Look for the best in people.
• Focus on benefiting the group, not yourself.
• Lead like Jesus— humbly, wholeheartedly, and honestly.