Breaking Free: What Leaders Must Do Instead
So what’s the alternative to people-pleasing? It’s not becoming harsh, uncaring, or autocratic.
It’s becoming conviction-led.
Conviction-led leaders care deeply about people—but they care more about God’s calling than people’s opinions. They listen well, but decide based on vision, not popularity. They’re kind, but they’re not captive to the need for approval.
Three questions to ask yourself:
- Am I making this decision based on what God is calling us toward, or based on who will be upset?
- Am I saying ‘yes’ because it’s right, or because I can’t handle saying ‘no’?
- Who am I ultimately trying to please—God or people?
The apostle Paul said it clearly: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
RELATED: 10 Things That Make Church Members Cry
The Hard Truth
Being a people-pleaser doesn’t make you a good leader. It makes you a popular one—for about five minutes. Then it makes you an ineffective one.
Your team doesn’t need you to make them happy. They need you to lead them somewhere worth going.
Your church doesn’t need you to validate every opinion. They need you to cast a vision that’s worth their lives.
And God doesn’t need you to be liked by everyone. He needs you to be faithful to what He called you to do.
So here’s my challenge: Stop trying to be liked and start trying to be faithful.
The people who matter will follow. The vision will move forward. And years from now, when you look back at what God built through your leadership, you’ll be glad you chose conviction over comfort.
