Question

Jesus discusses that whoever wants to be a “master” must first be a servant. In today’s vernacular, it means that a leader must show humility. How does a leader demonstrate humility in their leadership? What might that look like in a real-world example? Can a leader be both humble and yet authoritative? There is no subject area for this question. Just a basic question asked.

Answer 1

In today’s world, children are raised to believe that a leader has to be authoritative and keep followers under fear. Else, they would not be able to control the people under them. Thus, such children grow up to be autocratic leaders using more of power and threat than humility and compassion to lead followers.

How does a leader demonstrate humility in their leadership?

To lead requires an individual to be tough but not rude. While they should be kind, they should also be bold. Thus, it’s a fine balance of thoughtfulness and humility that is required to lead in the best manner. A leader may demonstrate humility in their leadership by being soft to people and addressing their needs compassionately. They should show their concern to followers by putting them in their shoes and understanding their problems.

The strength of the leader should be reflected when it is about taking action to solve those problems or coming up with measures that can be guiding for the followers. They should be humble and possess the ability to communicate in a light and humorous way. Still, they must avoid being arrogant or proud of whatever they do to serve their followers. People choose them as leaders because they require service with humility and not suppression under the fear of power. That is why Jesus discusses that whoever wants to be a master must first be a servant.

What might that look like in a real-world example?

There are many leaders who have led by humility and by serving the people they lead. One such real-life example may look like the spiritual leader, Dalai Lama. He is a river of compassion with an open and alert mind. In fact, he communicates the same leadership lessons to the existing and would-be leaders of the world.

Can a leader be both humble and yet authoritative?

In a sense, a leader can be both of these. This is because when a leader leads in a humble manner, his/her followers support and stand for him from the core of their heart. When followers love an authority over them, the leader automatically becomes authoritative or powerful. Therefore, being humble is a leader’s authority or way to power.