Effective Leaders Light the Way

Proverbs 4: 18-19 (NIV) The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

In a 2003 survey done by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute (www.bcwinstitute.com) they found, among other attributes, that the leaders in organizations ranked at the top of the list were described with terms like caring, humble, approachable, and Godly. Attractive leaders. Shining brightly. Easier to follow.

Greenleaf, in his work The Servant as Leader, posited that “…foresight…begins with a state of mind about now…” Doing right (righteousness) is both about being good and behaving with a mixture of grace and truth: it is also about being connected in this moment with our Creator.

Interesting to also note that the BCW list and Greenleaf attributes resemble what Jim Collins discovered in his seminal research and his book, Good to Great. The leaders of the great companies were not the falsely bright and charismatic personalities: rather, they were humble and modest and most often shared decision-making with their staff.

Both studies point us to people that light the path making it easier for followers to invest in the vision of the organization. Temporal lighting is good: how much better is an eternal light we believers are called to be.

The source? Holiness. Personal holiness is the most profound mixture of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. As we mature in our choices, we grow brighter and that brightness touches the lives of those around us – a synergistic relationship. We light up the world.

This is a God thing. He empowers us to walk. We obey. He lights our path.

Got the light? Are you lighting your world?

For Further Study