Rally people around you as a leader
Jesus gathered a team of twelve people around himself.
He lived with them and fellowshipped with them for three and a half years.
Rezon became a leader in his time.
The Bible tells us that he gathered people unto himself.
…Rezon, the son of Eliadah... And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band…1 Kings 11:23,24
How to rally people around you
• Appreciate the people around you.
Make people feel that you really want them around you.
Rejoice with the people around you over their little successes and breakthroughs.
Their joy will increase when they feel there is another person rejoicing with them.
• Never tease someone who does not like being teased.
There are some people who hate being teased.
Often this is because of a complex they had from childhood.
Be conscious of people’s inferiority complexes and treat them carefully.
• Call people by their names soon after you have met them.
No one likes to feel that he is a mere number.
People will warm up to you when they realise that you know them by name.
They will be even more touched if you call them by their pet names.
• Show interest in people’s personal lives.
Ask about their homes, jobs and schools. People need to feel that the leader has a genuine interest in their lives.
• Show an interest in people’s aspirations, visions and goals.
When you are only interested in your vision and goal, people will silently withdraw from you.
When they sense that you have an interest in making them successful they will rally around you.
• Offer food and drinks to visitors whenever you can.
When I was in the university, I visited many people on campus.
I always remember a particular lady called Adelaide.
Whenever we would go to her room, she would offer us something to eat.
Many times she and her roommate shared their supper with us.
This made her room a natural rallying point!
If you want to be a natural rallying point, learn to offer food and drinks to visitors anytime you can!
• Be an encourager!
Always notice when somebody has made an effort to achieve something. Perhaps they sang a song. Appreciate the effort that was made. You need to notice the effort and appreciate it.
• Say ‘thank you’ for everything.
It is better for people to think that you are saying ‘thank you’ too often than for them to feel that you are ungrateful.
• Do not be partial.
One of the first things that people notice about leaders is when they are partial.
The Bible says in James 3:17 that it is not wise to be partial: “But the wisdom that is from above is… without partiality...”
It is difficult to live in a country where the head of state begins to dislike you because of unsubstantiated tales.
It is difficult to work in an organisation where the boss can begin to dislike you based on a new feeling he has.
Even little children notice when their parents are partial toward one child. No one wants to follow someone who is biased and partisan without cause.
• Whenever there is an opportunity, give a gift.
A gift makes room for a man.
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. Proverbs 18:16
This means that space is created within the person’s heart for you.
You will be accepted and the person will rally around you.
• Go the extra mile to help someone.
Whenever you help someone in need, he remembers you.
People notice when you make the extra effort, and it touches their hearts.
When you ask them to rally around you for a cause, they will be there because they remember how you helped them.
I assure you of this one thing: if you do not sow a seed of help in someone’s life, no one will help you in the future.
• Be friendly, greet people in a pleasant way.
Be easygoing, be sociable: shake hands, hug people, give a pat on the back, be affable and pleasant.
Warmth is attractive. A cold and crisp person is not a natural rallying point.
• Be concerned when listening to people’s problems.
When listening to people’s problems, your facial expression must show deep concern and interest.
Try to pick up the details and show that you are following the story.
• Notice when people are absent.
People are offended when they find out that you did not even notice when they were away.
How can they be important to you if you do not even notice their absence?
These are some of the steps that can help you to be a rallying point for people.
Decide to be a gathering point for people.
Whatever is offensive in your personality and whatever scatters people must be dealt with if you take leadership seriously.
Rally people around you and lead them!
The writer is the founder of the Lighthouse Group of churches.
E-mail:
