#477: Five Attributes of Monumentally Effective Servant Leaders

Peter Drucker once said, “Leaders don’t think “I,” they think “we; they think team. They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don’t sidestep it, but “we” gets the credit…This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.”

Drucker’s statement has always struck me as an apt description of a servant leader. Servant leaders exist to build up, equip, and empower every team member to contribute their best work.

Of course, the best example of a servant leader is Jesus. In three years, he gathered a largely uneducated team of twelve followers and turned them into a team who changed the world by fearlessly presenting the Good News wherever they went. Jesus is the model of a servant leader we should all strive for, but He was God, and we’re not, so we will undoubtedly fall short.

I believe one man, in particular, deserves to be listed among the best servant leaders of the New Testament. When I tell you who I have in mind, you’ll likely say, “Really? He’s a nice guy, but he barely shows up in the pages of scripture. How can you consider him a leader, never mind a servant leader?”

The man I have in mind is Barnabas. Barnabas has a reputation as an encourager. In fact, his name means “Son of Encouragement.” While Barnabas’ reputation as an encourager was well-founded, there was much more to this man than being a cheerleader for others.

I believe those attributes qualify him for being included in the list of effective servant leaders from the New Testament.

If you’re not familiar with Barnabas you can read about him here: Acts 4:36-37, Acts 11:19-30, Acts 13:1-14:28, and Acts 15:36-41.

5 Attributes of Servant Leaders

As I examined Barnabas’s life, I found that besides having a reputation as an encourager, Barnabas did whatever he could to build others up, raised the morale of the team of apostles, and even spent time fundraising for missions work. Through all that work, I uncovered five attributes common among the best servant leaders.

1. A Heart of Generosity

Barnabas exemplified a man with a heart of generosity. When we first meet him, he has just arrived from Cyprus, where he sold a field, brought the money to the apostles, and laid it at their feet for use in the ministry (Acts 4:36-37).

In my experience, people who hoard their money are also afraid to let go of their power and prestige. On the other hand, those generous with their possessions are also most likely to invest in others. Their hearts of generosity extend to build up, equip, and empower others to be all that God has called them to be.

2. Secure in His Identity

Barnabas was secure in his identity. He understood his specific calling and was secure in knowing that he was doing what God called him to do. He didn’t seek the spotlight. Instead, he spent his life discovering the talents in others, mentoring them, and pushing them into the spotlight. He wasn’t concerned with who got credit as long as the cause of Christ was achieved.

No effective servant leader I have ever known put themselves first, seeking the spotlight and the applause of others. Instead, they step into the shadows as they build others up.

3. A Selfless Nature

Barnabas joined the apostles not to be served but to serve others. As a result, his focus was on giving, not on getting. He gave his money, time, and expertise freely and selflessly to all without expecting reward or recognition.

Selfish leaders are focused on maintaining and growing their power, prestige, status, or possessions. However, at the core of a servant leader’s heart is a selfless nature whose desire is to serve, not be served.

4. Celebrates the Success of Others

Because Barnabas was secure in his own identity, he happily and enthusiastically celebrated the success of others. He loved to find and equip others for their role in the ministry. He knew when others succeeded, Christ’s cause was served.

Every effective servant leader I know takes special joy in celebrating the success of others. Small wins or big wins, it doesn’t matter. Servant leaders celebrate the victories of others.

5. Sees Potential in Others

Barnabas was especially keen on seeing the untapped potential in others and helping them grow into the effective leaders God intended them to be. He saw value in people overlooked or shunned by others. He bravely came alongside them to build them up, equip them, and empower them to serve the cause of Christ.

Every effective servant leader I know takes special pleasure in discovering the untapped potential in others. They invest in those other people overlook or cast aside. They are more concerned with building the organization up, so every person leverages their God-given gifts and talents to the maximum advantage.

Today’s Servant Leaders

As far as I can tell, nothing has changed in terms of what it takes to be a monumentally effective servant leader today. Every effective servant leader I know exemplifies each of these five attributes. They are:

• Generous with their treasure, time, and expertise.
• Secure in their identity.
• Selfless.
• Happy to celebrate others’ success. And they,
• See and develop the potential in others.

We would do well to be the servant leader to our organizations that Barnabas was to the apostles he served.

More Articles

I have written several articles on servant leadership. You can find them by typing “servant leadership” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are four of my favorites.

• #456: 8 Signs of A Courageous Christian Servant Leader
• #427: Powerful, Faithful Godly Leaders Embody These Two Traits
• #414: What Is Different About A Leader in The Kingdom of God?
• #374: Is Serving What We Are Called to Do?
• #309: Do You Know This Servant-Hearted Seamstress Who Caused A Revival?

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Category: Relationships | Servant Leadership