He had a unique birth and was raised in a service-oriented career. There was nothing special about his life and how he was raised.
As a young man he humbly obeyed his parents. One day they could not find him because he was learning from the older people around him. Instead of being a typical modern twelve-year-old, he explained what he was doing and obeyed his parents.
You may think how a person with this upbringing could do anything significant. He spent the last three years of his life serving people. While he traveled the country, he shared principles that were universally true and showed love and compassion to all those he encountered. He even had an “executive team” of twelve.
These twelve ordinary individuals were constantly mentored so they also could become great leaders. Some of them were hated because of their professional careers and others were in common careers like fishing or carpentry: respectable, but nothing glamorous.
His influence grew and he became a problem.
Was he trying to start a rebellion or political revolution?
No.
He questioned the established leaders of the day especially those in faith circles and exposed their hypocrisy. He modeled a different way of leading to those who followed him.
One day before eating he knelt down and took off his outer garment. He proceeded to go around the room and wash the dirty covered feet of each member of his inner circle. This was a visual example of his leadership and the kind of leadership he expected of others. He served before seeking to be served.
This man’s life touched at least 10,000 others, but that number shrunk significantly as no one was around when it looked like the end for him. He was killed, and then he was buried, but something happened.
Those who were with him. Those closest to him. They followed his example. Eleven of these twelve men modeled the following traits.
Boldness
These men who walked with this man continued sharing his message even though for many of them it cost their lives. They shared in front of those who could and would ultimately take their lives.
Service
These men modeled the same type of service they experienced. They did not shy from helping those in need regardless of who it was.
Sacrifice
To share this message of hope and a greater purpose was not free of difficulty. Surely, they had to leave those they cared the most about. Some of them gave up lucrative careers in order to spread the message.
In case you didn’t figure it out, this leader was none other than the meaning behind the Christmas season. Jesus.
Wherever you land on who Jesus is/was is not the point of this blog. But, as his life demonstrated, when a leader models the way and lives the way it becomes contagious. Our example as leaders at work and home will do more to develop leaders around and among us than any words we say. What needs to improve and grow in your example as a leader? Need help thinking into it? Contact me for a complimentary thinking partner session. Lead well.
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