Effective leaders handle conflicts personally, privately and with the spirit of forgiveness. Read Luke 17:3-10.

Jesus, knowing His disciples would soon have major leadership roles, continually taught principles that would make them more effective leaders. When He told them they should forgive a person who had wronged them, even if they wronged them seven times, as long as that person returned and ask for forgiveness, His disciples’ first thought was this may be too much and they would need more faith to accomplish the task. Jesus simply told His team their faith was sufficient and conflict resolution and forgiveness was part of a leader’s everyday job. Jesus was clear that a leader should not expect praise for doing what was an expected part of their leadership role.

Effective leaders seek to develop God-honoring character. Read Matthew 18:21-35.

Jesus’ disciples were already leaders when they started following Him but spending time with Jesus caused them to see elements of their life that did not match His words and actions. As they saw Jesus’ consistency, the disciples started trusting Jesus’ character enough to ask the inner-hidden-deeper-secret personal questions they were struggling with in their lives. Peter asked Jesus a question every leader struggles with, “How many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” He must have been shocked when Jesus’ answer was, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

There will be times when every leader’s relationships fail but the wise Christian leader follows God’s model of forgiveness and restoration. Read Hosea 14:1-3.

For 13 chapters in the book of Hosea, God condemned Israel’s people and leaders for their rebellion against Him. In Chapter 14, God gives the people of Israel hope for forgiveness and restoration. The one condition, they must return to Him.

An important component of leadership is conflict management. Read Isaiah 2:1-5.

Isaiah’s description of life under God’s rule in the last days sets a pattern for leadership. An important component is the peace that results from settling disputes. The symbol used to represent peace is reshaping weapons formerly used to settle disputes into tools used to create an abundant life; they will reshape efforts once used to destroy into efforts of productive work.

It is to a leader’s credit if they can overlook insults and restrain their anger. Read Proverbs 19:11.

Conflict is a fact of life so it is crucial that a leader learn how to manage it with an eye toward positive closure. A wise leader manages conflict with patience and recognizes it for what it is – a conflict; do not turn it into an offense by personalizing it.