A leader makes those around him feel important

 A leader usually has several people who work with him.

A leader, therefore, has people around him.

There is a way to get the best out of your people and harness the best in them.  

One of the things that come forth from a good leader is how he strives to let people around him feel important!

This is one of the ways to become a close-knit team.  

If you do not take the people around you to the top with you, you will be very lonely.

• A leader mingles with the people around him.

The Bible says that David when he was king, used to go in and out of the people. He mingled with them.

Here is an amazing example of Jesus Christ.

There were different classes of people around Him and He was able to freely mingle with them all.

Jesus mingled with thieves: There were two thieves at the cross and Jesus was able to relate to them.

Jesus mingled with tax collectors: Matthew, the disciple, was a tax collector when Jesus called him.

At the time, tax collectors were a group that society did not look kindly on.

Jesus mingled with fishermen: Peter was a fisherman. So was his brother Andrew.

Jesus mingled with foreigners: the Syro-Phoenician woman came to Jesus with her daughter who was afflicted with a demon.

Jesus mingled with mad people: In Mark 5, we see Jesus relate with the mad man of Gadara.

Jesus mingled with demonised people: Mary Magdalene was said to have been demon-possessed.

Jesus mingled with noblemen: Joseph of Arimathea was a nobleman in the society.

Jesus mingled with priests and church leaders: Nicodemus was one of the leaders.    

Dear leader, are you able to mingle freely? Learn to do this, if you currently have difficulties with it.

There was no strata of society where Jesus did not interact freely.

As a leader, do not restrict yourself to one group of the society.  

● A leader does not call or describe his staff and subordinates as servants.

Henceforth, I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:15

Nobody likes to be called a servant, even if that is the case. Jesus specifically said that he did not call his disciples servants.

This likely gave them a feeling of importance.

Maybe, seeing the people you have as part of your team will make it easy for you to relate to them in this way.

● A leader describes his staff, his subordinates and his juniors as friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14

I enjoy the friendship of the people who work for me. If I did not have them, I would be very lonely.

Are the people around you your friends? Do you see them as such?

When you make them your friends, it will be far easier to work with them to achieve the same goals. 

●A leader describes the people who work for him as his family.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:48-50

This is one thing I have done all my life.

I have never seen my pastors or workers as employees but as family.

I actually hate being called “boss”. Create a family spirit in your organisation.

It is a hundred times better than a formal, stiff organisation. Let their family issues and personal problems be your personal problems!  

5.A leader tells his juniors about himself and his plans.

…but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. John 15:15b

When you tell people about yourself and your plans, it draws them close to you.

They feel important to be trusted with such information.

It also makes them confident to defend you, no matter the situation.   

Are you a leader? Do you have people around you? Imagine what a difference you would make if you followed these steps!

Decide to make the people around you feel important and you will be amazed at their sense of ownership when it comes to your collective aims and objectives.

Make them believe they are your best people – and they will be!

The writer is the founder of the Lighthouse Group of churches.

E-mail: theaol@ymail.com