C h a p t e r 3
LEADERS ARE
PEOPLE-ORIENTED
“A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you love one another”
(John 13:34-35).Leadership is about people – nothing more, nothing less. Good leadership
skills are based upon good people skills. The better a person’s people skills,
the better his leadership skills.
From start to finish, the leadership calling is a people calling. Spiritual leaders
are called to give their lives to people, not programs. First and foremost,
leaders are committed to individuals – not to institutions. If this principle is
true for leaders in general, how much more true is it for spiritual leaders.
That’s why Jesus called Himself a Shepherd, and referred to the leaders
He trained in the same way. “I am the good shepherd,” Jesus said (Jn.
10:10, 14).
Shepherds have one primary focus – their sheep. They love their sheep...
abide with their sheep...live for their sheep...enjoy their sheep...work for their
sheep...feed their sheep...protect their sheep – and if necessary, die for their
sheep.
Because of this life-long focus by the shepherd on his sheep, you cannot