 When Stephen Covey penned The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People1 in the golden age of using business-management techniques for personal development, the Seven Habits became the manual of how to succeed in life and in business. Eventually, Covey expanded the Seven Habits to manage other aspects of life, including family.
The habits outlined by Covey are still valuable, but if Jesus were to write a leadership manual, his “seven habits” 2 might read something like this:
1. Know your stuff.
When Jesus began his ministry, he started by teaching in the synagogue. There, according to Mark, the people said he spoke “as one having authority” (Mark 1:22).
Part of being a good leader is having something to share, something to teach. For your leadership to have integrity, you must be well informed. Regardless of what you are doing, be prepared. Do the homework.
2. Be honest.
Jesus did not hide the unpleasant realities from his followers. As they traveled ever closer to Jerusalem, Jesus became more explicit about what would happen to him (Luke 9:22–27). Leaders must be willing to face unpleasant realities, and help others face them as well.
3. Be calm in a crisis.
Whether it was a storm, a hungry multitude, or a demon-possessed person, Jesus exemplified the phrase “work the problem.” He told his disciples to fear not. When the disciples were faced with the prospect of feeding thousands of hungry people, Jesus remained a non-anxious presence and provided guidance. A good leader will assess a problem and offer suggestions for solving the problem.
4. Keep on mission.
It would have been easy for Jesus to leave the road before Jerusalem, but when tempted in the desert or when hearing Peter and others wanting to build “booths” to honor him, Jesus kept the final goal in mind. There were distractions. He visited the bereaved family of a close friend, healed the sick, and shared meals with outcasts. He strayed from the task of heading to Jerusalem, but Jesus always kept his ultimate mission before him. Good leaders value the mission over the tasks at hand.
5. Know when to let go.
When sending out his disciples, Jesus told each of them that, at some point, you have to “shake off the dust from your feet” and move on (Matthew 10:14). A strong leader knows it is sometimes necessary to discontinue programs or techniques that aren’t working, regardless of how great they were. An amazing leader discerns when to let go.
6. Empower people to do the job without you.
Nobody is indispensable. A strong leader establishes independent ministries that continue without the leader’s ongoing presence or abilities. Jesus prepared his followers for his absence. Although the disciples did not get it right all the time, they did their best with Jesus as their model and guide.
7. Make time to recharge your own batteries.
Jesus occasionally moved away from the crowds to be by himself, but he was not idle. Jesus went away and prayed. Part of recharging includes filling the empty spaces in body, mind, and soul with healthy things. Eat well. Get plenty of sleep. Make time to indulge in hobbies that you enjoy. And don’t forget prayer, the kind that recharges the spirit. A crucial component of church leadership is bearing witness to the life and lordship of Jesus Christ. One way to honor Christ is to consider his model of amazing leadership.
Notes
1. Stephen R. Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989.
2. Covey’s “seven habits” are: be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win/win; seek first to understand, then to be understood; synergize; and sharpen the saw.
Karen S. Russell is program assistant for the Company of Pastors, Theology Worship and Education, General Assembly Mission Council, PC(USA).
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