Learn and Know these things to Follow Well

Beyond the "be-attitudes" of followership there are also a few things that are extremely helpful to learn and know about your leader in order to influence him or her.

• Know yourself! Every good leader knows himself best of all. Find out your own strengths and weaknesses, relational style, gifts and passions. If you don't know yourself well it means you have blind spots that will eventually derail your ministry. Take tests and assessments but also, ask people close to you (truthful friends in your small group, ministry team members, spouse, children) if they agree with the assessments. Sometimes we lie to ourselves even on the tests!



• Know his/her personality & relational style. Knowing and understanding your leaders relational style will help you accept her as she is and will also greatly improve your communications with her.



• Know his/her strengths & weaknesses. Understanding your leader's weaknesses helps you to know how to help her! You will be able to fill in some of the gaps and make the team stronger.



• Know his/her priorities. It's difficult to know how to be a resource if you don't know what your leader's top goals and priorities are. You can become a better value-adder if you know the goals he's aiming for.



• Know his/her prayer needs. Praying for your leader is the most powerful thing you can do for her. Knowing what she needs from God will help you accept her as she is and pray for her with a positive attitude. Not "God change her" but "Lord change me and show me how to serve her well."

Good leaders follow - Good followers lead.

--Eugene Habecker