Leaders do more than merely point people in the right direction; they create conditions that will empower them to do the job. Read 2 Kings 2:7-15.

Elisha boldly asked Elijah for a double portion of the older prophet’s spirit. In doing so, he would assume the position of Elijah’s firstborn son. God granted his request when Elisha was allowed to pick up the cloak that dropped down from his mentor Elijah as he was being carried up to heaven by the hand of God.

It takes great courage on the part of a leader to truly empower those on their team. Leaders that are honest with themselves inherently understand that some of the loyalty of individuals on their team will shift to the one empowered and some of the credit they had enjoyed will also be credited to their empowered teammate. Read 1 Samuel 18:7-29.

The people of Israel had been cruelly oppressed by Philistine rule. Israel’s King Saul and the nation of Israel desperately needed a victory over the Philistine Army. The Philistine soldier Goliath, a nine foot tall Olympic quality athlete/soldier, had single-handedly held Israel’s army at bay for weeks with his daily challenge for one-on-one combat with any Israelite soldier to decide the outcome of the war. King Saul offered a huge reward to the leader that would fight and defeat Goliath. There were no takers.

When Joseph’s brothers realized that the one they had betrayed could now do with them as he pleased, they feared payback. Instead of retaliating, Joseph did the unexpected; Joseph blessed them and empowered them to complete the task that had brought them to Egypt. Read Genesis 45:4-7.

Each of us can learn from Joseph traits that will empower our leadership to go to the next level. Joseph had several qualities that made him an empowering leader: