3. You are a KING MAKER
An encouraging leader quickly sees the potential in others and uses their God-given authority to appoint those around them to new levels of authority. Like Moses in Exodus 18, who—under Jethro’s instruction—appointed “able men” (described as “leaders of thousands, hundreds, and fifties and tens”) to help share the burden and carry the load.
In my most recent blog on ‘10 Hallmarks of a Leader of Leaders’ I quoted from Psalm 45.16: “Instead of your fathers shall be your sons who YOU will make princes in the land.” I am believing to raise up princes…both men and women who become ‘generals in the faith.’ I want to be a king maker when it comes to advancing the lives of people, whilst always keeping it about the King of Kings.
4. You are a CEILING LIFTER
An encouraging leader is both a room-giver and a roof-lifter when it comes to their impact on others. A wise leader senses the right time to make the space for others to grow taller, and enlarge their capacity and their influence. The truth is, though, you can never lift a ceiling that you can’t reach yourself—your arms just aren’t long enough! So, in order to raise other people’s ceilings, your own life and leadership will require consistent stretching and growing. Building a team known for their loyalty and longevity means making constant provision for your people to grow in their leadership and flourish in their calling.
5. You are a BELIEF GIVER
An encouraging leader has others believing that “all things are possible, and nothing is impossible.”
“Little boy, do you believe you can do this?
“Yes, I believe I can do this.”
My wife was mesmerized by a simple movie called ‘Little Boy,’ which is a feel good film about a young man’s mountain-moving faith. He believed he could do what others said was impossible.
Lack of belief can lock people in a jailhouse of intimidation and under-achievement. You can never be a belief giver unless you actually and genuinely believe in the potential that others have. When you live in a faith-filled, uplifting environment where encouragement is welcomed—it is easy to forget that many of those around you would never receive any encouragement if it weren’t for you.
Encouragement in this world is rarer than you may think. So many people live in a negative and discouraging world where encouragement is a foreign language that no one has ever learned and no one ever speaks. Yet, a leader who genuinely believes in people and offers genuine encouragement will consistently be surrounded by people who would go to the ends of the earth for them.
