Paper Example on Importance of Learning How to Be a Follower

Introduction

The book, Grace-Full leader, emphasizes the importance of a Christian leader to learn to be a follower sometimes. Leadership is not about leading all the time. It is essential as a leader to be driven y those that you lead so that you can get the chance to view things from their perspective. As a leader, this would give you the opportunity to imagine and learn what you would do if you were in the same situation. It is called empathy, putting you in someone's shoes. An excellent Christian disciple must show compassion. It does not only mean doing what a Christian is told. The Christian religion is deeply rooted in the society, and this means that the followers of the faith need to be very active and engaged in the church. It means that for a grace-full leader, it is essential to learn to be a follower. Followers are equally crucial as leaders are. It means that the lines between a leader and a follower are not as distinct as they used to be. Before one becomes a leader, he or she is a follower first. It is from being a follower that one becomes a leader. Grace-Full leadership, therefore, suggests that every leader is a follower, but not all followers are leaders.

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Being a Motivator While Being a Follower

We are all followers in some areas of our lives. It is the valuable lessons learned in this situation that make us better leaders. Followers can be motivators in some ways. Followers support and help the leader when the leader is on the right track. They have the hidden courage to let the leader be are when they are on the wrong track, or headed in the wrong direction. Being a good follower means having the hidden courage to disagree if one thinks that the leader is on the right track. It requires much conviction, guts, and courage which are essential for good leadership. Being a motivating follower means being engaged, paying attention and having that courage to speak up when something is wrong. Good followers can enhance critical thinking. They can support and motivate the leader when they are doing the right thing. Good followers can only stand up to the leader when he/she is following the wrong direction, and this is only achievable through critical thinking.

Communication Skills Needed to Be a Follower

A follower needs to be a great communicator. A team cannot succeed if the followers fail to communicate and converse with their leaders effectively. It is for this reason that the author goes to the cockpit to chat with Hugh, the pilot. Hugh, a leader, and a follower communicates with the tower, early enough when there is a problem of landing. An active follower should, therefore, know how to be a good listener never let their leader make mistakes and also never surprises their leader. Advance communication is critical.

Lessons Learnt from Matthew 4:18-20

The verse talks about being a follower of Jesus. The first lesson is that there is a consistent command to follow Jesus when Jesus repeatedly calls his disciples to follow him. He commands Peter and Andrew, James and John and later on in Mathew; he also orders Levi the tax collector, among others. It means that following Jesus entails denying oneself worldly pleasures, confessing one's sins and supporting him. It does not suggest doing the things you initially did.

"We can Only Lead as We Follow."

The quote means that to be an active leader, one must e a follower first. Essential leadership lessons are learned when one is a follower. Similarly, one can effectively lead if he/ she are also followers. The quote emphasizes leadership humility.

How I Follow Jesus in My Life

I choose to follow Jesus in my life for three significant reasons, to gain my life (Luke 9:24), to gain my soul (9:25) and to benefit from my savior (9:26). I, therefore, follow Jesus by serving others through volunteering in the community, placing others first and listening to God.

What To Do as a Servant Leader (Mark 10:43-44)

A great Christian is a servant. In the modern society, a servant leader should, therefore, build the people who are around him/her. These people will, in turn, build the community. Servant leaders should also motivate to bring out the best in others. They can develop mega abilities and exercise mega authority to become better servant leaders.

Leadership as a Spiritual Practice

The phrase means that leadership is a call from God to do godly work that addresses challenges facing human beings in their environment and cultures. It means that leaders should engage communities in solving the most difficult problems people undergo.

Spirituality and Servant Leadership

O'Brien (2010) explains and gives an account of the works of Florence Nightingale whose life and ministry is an excellent example of a nurse who portrayed spirituality in her line of duty as a nurse. Her spirituality is evident in caring for the sick, teaching and writing where she saw servant leadership as a sub-theme of a caring vocation.

Reference

O'Brien, M. (2010). Servant leadership in nursing. Jones & Bartlett Learning.