5 Characteristics of Great Leaders & Followers

Ask any leader and they probably could quickly rattle off several characteristics of the people they would really like to have on their team. Some of these characteristics would probably include hard-working, faithful, diligent, humble, and honest. While these are qualities we would like to see in our teammates, often times we as leaders fail to realize that we have a natural tendency to attract people who have similar characteristics as we do.

If you’re unable to recruit the type of people to your team you would like, you may first need to ask yourself if you’re that type of person. If you’re not timely, how do you expect to be able to recruit and retain someone who values timeliness? The best way to naturally attract the people you desire to your team is to grow yourself in the areas you’re looking for in others. It is very likely the characteristics we’re looking for in the people on our team, are the same characteristics The Father is looking for in the people on His team. Let’s take a look at a few. 

Hard-Working

Everybody wants someone on their team who works hard and has a strong work ethic. Colossians 3:23a instructs us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” Half doing your job would be a contradiction to this instruction. Whether we look at things in the natural or in spiritual, they both require us to work hard. James 2:26 says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Your faith is demonstrated by your work. If you want your faith to work hard for you, then you better work hard at demonstrating it. If you want your team to work hard for you, then you need to make sure you’re working hard for them. 

Diligent

Did you know it’s possible to be hard-working and not be diligent? You may work hard for a day or a week or a month, but what if it takes longer than you expected to get the job done? Are you willing to work hard and continue working hard until the goal has been accomplished? Diligence is all about persistence and refusing to give up. I believe there are so many of us who don’t have what we need simply because we aren’t willing to continue in doing the work necessary to get what we desire. The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about diligence. Here are just a few examples.

“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (Proverbs 10:4)

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4)

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)

As a leader, you can’t expect the people on your team to be the ones who do what’s necessary to bring you profit, satisfaction and wealth. You must be diligent as well. If you’re not willing to endure to the end, why should you expect them to? 

Faithful

“Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6). Faithfulness, unfortunately, is a hard trait to come by these days. We want to have people on our team who are faithful to us, but are we faithful to them? Just like many marriages are ruined because of unfaithfulness, so are many working relationships. If we want the people on our team to be reliable, dependable, loyal and committed, then we must be those things as well.

The Bible is very clear that God rewards the faithful. Maybe you’re constantly thinking you have too much work to do and not enough people to do it. If you, as the leader, are faithful with the few people you have on your team, then you will prove that you can be trusted with more. If you’re just using the people on your team to get what you want or to earn more money, there will be consequences. If you are faithful to them, there will be rewards. The people on your team are watching you. If you sow faithfulness, faithfulness is what you will reap. 

Humble

Too often, leaders can get to the point where they think they’re above or better than others. Pride and ego quickly take over and the rest of the team is stuck dealing with the toxicity of the leader’s arrogance, all while trying to fight to maintain some sense of value within themselves. The best leaders not only know how to lead, but they also know how to follow. They not only know the value they bring to the table, but they also recognize and acknowledge the value each individual on their team brings to the table. They not only are willing to show others the way, but they are as equally willing to serve others along the way.

The Bible is very clear when it comes to humility. I’ll just let the scripture speak for itself.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

“For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.” (Proverbs 149:4)

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)

“Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.” (Proverbs 18:12)

“Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (1Peter 5:5b) 

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3) 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) 

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” (Romans 12:16) 

“The greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11) 

If you want to be honored, you must be humble. If you want to help prevent destruction coming upon you, you must be humble. If you want humble people on your team, you must first humble yourself. 

Honest

Just like you don’t want anyone on your team who lies to you, no one wants to work for a leader who lies to them. Honesty is paramount in a leader’s ability to gain the trust of their team. If you have been dishonest with your team in the past, you must do what Ephesians 4:25 instructs us to do and put off falsehood. You can begin today speaking truthfully to them. You’re all members of one team and the only way for you to work in unity is if there’s a level of trust that’s been built through the honesty and integrity of the leader. 

Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you can get away with being untruthful with your team every now and then. Proverbs 10:9 says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” If you don’t want your team lying to you, it’s critical that you not lie to them. If nothing else, choose to be an honest person knowing that “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22).

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