The Two Sides to Leadership

By Doug Franklin June 10, 2013

There are two sides to leadership: doing and being.  The doing side is what leaders do; the being side is who leaders are.  The doing side relates to the leader’s conduct and actions; the being side refers to the leader’s character and attitudes.

Psalm 78:72 spells out these two sides of leadership.  “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”  There are three key points in this verse:
1.    David was the shepherd of Israel; this describes his role as a leader.
2.    He had integrity; this relates to his character as a leader.
3.    He had skills; this involves his conduct as a leader.

Leaders are shepherds who guide, direct, serve, protect, nurture, and care for their followers.  They stand before their people pointing the way to the future and being a model for others to follow.  Leaders model themselves after Jesus, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.

Leaders are people of integrity.  They are honest.

Leadership involves doing.  A true leader is defined by action.  Actions truly do speak louder than words.  When the chance comes to stand for the truth no matter the cost, it is the true leader who is the first to rise to the challenge.