As we continue our series on leading in the fruit of the Spirit today’s focus is gentleness. While Siri’s definition of gentleness is the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered, the biblical definition is closer to humility. However we define it, gentleness is probably not on the top ten list of the qualities most leaders would consider vital to leading effectively. And yet the Apostle Paul included it as a facet of the fruit of the Spirit. Why? The short answer is gentleness or humility is a quality of Jesus. He led by serving. He led by demonstrating a gentleness or humility unparalleled in the history of leadership, and the history of humanity for that matter.
What does that has to do with our leadership in the 21st century? That all depends on whether we want to lead in a manner reflecting Jesus or not. When we gain success as leaders, it is all too easy to let that success inflate our sense of ourselves, to exhibit pride, and to think that our leadership is the key to our organization’s success. We might even think without us our organizations couldn’t make it. While our leadership may well be vital to our organization’s success, one thing about which we must be clear is one day it will succeed without us, or it won’t succeed. We are all “interim” leaders when we consider things from the long view. Even if we hold our position for decades, the time will come when we retire, move on to another position or die.
That means gentleness is not only a helpful quality for leaders, but a particularly important quality for successful leaders. After all, gentleness will be the trait that helps us keep our success in perspective, to thank God for the abilities and gifts He has given us, and to remember that without a plan for succession there is no long-term success. Without gentleness or humility, we can forget that the organizations we serve are intended to outlive us. We may forget that we serve them and our employees or co-workers, and not the other way around. These are vital reminders for the long-term success of our organization.
So how is it going in the area of gentleness or humility in your leadership? Do you recognize the contributions of others? When you need to reprimand an employee do you do it with gentleness, recognizing that unless he or she is totally derelict as an employee, the time will come when you will be offering praise for work well done. Are you see the folks around you as people and not merely as “cogs” in the “machinery” of your organization? How would others say you do in the area of gentleness.
These questions are so important when it comes to examining our performance in areas such as gentleness, because we wouldn’t naturally think to consider the. Gentleness is like salt. When you add salt to food in the appropriate quantity it enhances the flavor without drawing attention to itself. When we lead with gentleness the same will be true. We will enhance the overall well-being of our entire organization without drawing attention to ourselves.
Here’s to leading better, by making sure we are exercising gentleness in our work–today!