How to Lead When You're Behind the Scenes Sýnishorn

Day Two: Teach

And [God] has given both [Bezalel] and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. Exodus 35:34 NIV

What do the famous Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Adele have in common? According to all three of them, they owe a lot of their present success to teachers.

Teaching doesn’t always rank too high on our list of things leaders are called to do. Even though we have come a long way, leadership still has a bit of a reputation for giving orders and being followed. If a leader does choose to teach, it’s from a platform, and only after they have made a name for themselves.

In a world where everyone wants to be seen, it can be easy to focus on our own achievements instead of teaching others how to step into theirs. But if God has placed you in leadership, He has called you to teach.

1 Peter 5:2-3 says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

Great leaders are great teachers. Think about it. Every leader who has positively influenced your life has taught you something you’ve carried with you. They might not have been famous, but their name carries weight for you.

As a master craftsman, Bezalel knew everything you could know about art and all its subsections. It would’ve been easy for him to think teaching others was beneath him and instead focus on letting the world know who he was and what he could do. And yet we know from the Bible that Bezalel chose to use his gift to mentor and guide the other artisans and craftsmen. He didn’t just put his head down and work — he taught others along the way.

This definitely isn’t glamorous, and there will be times when your efforts go unacknowledged. But like the teachers of those celebrities, even though they were unknown, their influence was seen and felt by millions through their students.

What would it look like for you to be a good teacher? List some of these action steps. Does it look different than how you are currently leading?