When you have an idea as a leader, you first need to be able to carry it out yourself so you can work out all the mistakes. If you practice this, you will be more effective at leading people. You need to do first what you expect the people to do later. A manager tells people what to do but a leader says ‘Follow Me’. Leadership takes true action and setting of the example.
Jesus Christ was our best example of leadership that we can follow. Jesus would model how to do something, then have the disciples do it themselves. For example, He first showed His disciples how He baptized before the disciples did it on their own. He also cast out demons, healed the sick, and opened blind eyes as an example to the disciples before they went out and did the same.
Consistently Jesus said, “Follow Me”, approaching people from all walks of life, giving them the opportunity to follow or not. He didn’t sugar coat what people would have to give up in order to follow Him. In fact, he was incredibly honest with the cost of being His disciple. Jesus gave people a choice. Leadership that aims to control will never work, but leadership that aims to empower will be much more successful.
Remember this next time you’re in position of leadership. Learn to set the example first, learn to empower, and see what God will do!