The Longsuffering Leader

Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

In Measure of a Leader, the authors posit that it is followers who define the leader. These followers, among other attributes, will make sacrifices for the leader’s cause.

Those kinds of followers are lead by one who not only practices patience, but also leads compassionately. Compassionate leadership often yields followers who give more to an organization than the letter of the job description requires – they give to the “spirit” of the job.

Perhaps, overlooking an offense is the appropriate action; but this is not some fluffy, whimsical compassion. This is leadership compassion that exercises both discretion and provides direction. It is more than empathy. It involves action.

For example, when a follower has demonstrated that s/he can’t reasonably be expected to perform to an organizational standard, it is compassionate, to both the individual and the organization, to move that person to another opportunity (in or out of the organization) that will best use what they have to offer a leader or a team.

Patient, compassionate leadership does require wisdom that flows from an intimate relationship with the One who is Wisdom: the One who left us the Spirit, whose fruit in our lives includes patience. Leading like Jesus is not natural: it is supernatural.

Got patience? How’s your fruit of the Spirit at work?


Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell