Effective leaders create structure that addresses the methods by which resources flow through the organization to accomplish work. Read Numbers 11:1-35.

When Moses couldn’t handle all of the responsibilities of leading Israel, God told him to enlist seventy qualified persons, empower them and allow them to help to carry the burden. Moses was overwhelmed and the people under-served so God took action. The existing system wasn’t working so He changed it. It wasn’t about “who’s the boss”, it was about who would serve the people.

Effective leaders are not aloof but connect with the people in their sphere of influence. Read John 4:1-26.

Do you have trouble connecting with your team? John Maxwell discusses what he calls “The Law of Connection” from this passage where Jesus connects with a woman from Samaria and changes an entire city.

We don’t even know her name. Other Jews wouldn’t even speak with her. Yet because Jesus was different, He spoke with this Samaritan woman – a snubbed gender within a despised race. Through this personal connection, God reached an entire city. We learn at least eight principles from Jesus’ leadership in John 4:

1. Leaders initiate contact (vv1-7). Jesus spoke first. He didn’t isolate Himself even from “undesirables.”
2. Leaders establish common ground (vv. 7-8). He connected with her about a familiar interest: water.
3.  Leaders listen and allow others to speak (v. 9). He knew people like to hear their own voices most of all.
4. Leaders arouse interest (v10-15). Jesus built a verbal bridge by making her thirsty for something more than water.
5. Leaders take others only so far as they are ready to go (vv. 16-19). Jesus knew He mustn’t go too far. He said enough to make her hungry for more.
6. Leaders accept others where they are (vv17, 18). Jesus knew her lifestyle, but never condemned her for it.
7. Leaders stick with the key issues (vv. 20-24). He didn’t allow her to get distracted. He wouldn’t divert the focus from the real issue.
8. Leaders communicate issues directly and simply (vv. 25-26). Jesus revealed His identity in clear and simple terms.

In your everyday leadership style do you tend to avoid people or connect with people? Jesus, the only perfect leader to ever live, modeled a leader that connected – even with a person others avoided at all costs.

The wise leader understands the power of attitude? Read Luke 6:17-42.

One of Jesus very first acts after selecting His team of 12 disciples was to instruct them about attitude. The common thinking of the day was that the poor had done something wrong or they would not be poor, those suffering or hungry or mourning were somehow crossways with God or they would not be in their situation and that visa versa the rich has somehow pleased God and received special favor. Jesus was quick to instruct them not judge or you will be judged and examine their own personal shortcomings before they examined the shortcomings of others. The attitude of Jesus’ closest followers would be critical if they were to adopt His core truths concerning the people He was sent to rescue from Satan’s grip.

The wise leader seeks to move the team from leadership consumers to leadership contributors. Read Mark 8:1-21.

For the second time Jesus had fed a large crowd, this time in excess of 4,000. Jesus was teaching His disciples that God could provide a lot of food from a few loaves of bread and some small fish. A much deeper lesson came later when they realized that this miracle was just an example of how God provides for all their needs. This second level of understanding was critical for Jesus’ disciples to become leaders after His death.

A leader’s attitude is determined by their perspective. Read Matthew 20:1-16.

In His public ministry, Jesus’ primary method of teaching was through parables (short case studies). His parable always fit the situation and His audience could transfer the principles if they gave careful thought to the situation and Jesus’ story. In today’s verses Jesus’ direct point deals with God’s grace to give the same reward to a person who serves their whole life in His service and to someone who comes to believe and serve later in life. However, within the parable there is a second truth about attitude toward any given circumstance that leaders can apply to their personal growth.