The Leader in Youنموونە

Authenticity

What does true significance look like? So far, we’ve explored integrity and character as two marks of a leadership platform that honors God’s call. These characteristics must be combined with authenticity.

There is such a demand for authentic leadership and honest and trustworthy voices. There are people with such credibility that they are regarded by enemies and foes alike as being fair, dependable, and authentic. In an article at Forbes.com, Kevin Kruse described authentic leaders as those who 

• are self-aware and genuine
• are mission driven and focused on results
• lead with their heart
• focus on the long-term 

Nehemiah was an authentic leader. In the first chapter of Nehemiah, we witness his internal process of surveying his community, wrestling with the stirrings of his heart to address the needs of his community as well as his desire to see God’s restoration manifested as promised. We then find him mobilizing others by sacrificing and leveraging his own leadership. Nehemiah rallied his community to rebuild the city that had been destroyed by fire, and led his generation. His community followed him because the desires of his heart were pure and genuine, and through his vision casting he stirred them to see what he saw: restoration. 

Authentic leaders make plain what’s true and lead us toward overcoming false narratives. When we choose to operate in truth, we prove to people that we can be trusted to not intentionally deceive them. Whether they agree with us or not, at least they know where we stand. The truth sets us free (John 8:32)—a truth we can live by.

In today’s reading, consider the results of authentic leadership. Paul models this in Philippians by admitting his shortcomings but focusing always on the end-goal of his call in Christ.