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DON'T MAKE YOUR STORY ALL ABOUT YOU
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
– C.S. Lewis
Paul was not one to boast. In fact, the one time that he did list his accomplishments (a list that most would be proud of), he counted his victories as losses. What others would treasure he considers trash. Similarly, when an excited crowd hailed his accomplishments and spoke words that certainly would have inflated my ego (see Acts 14:11-15), Paul deflected the praise and drew the attention to Christ.
Best-selling leadership author, Jim Collins, calls this the “triumph of humility.” The greatest leaders are the ones who leverage their power not for themselves, but for others. Collins calls them “Level Five Leaders” and notes that they are extremely rare. The natural inclination is to use our power and authority for ourselves, often to acquire more power and authority. Jesus, Paul, and history’s greatest leaders have used their position for the sake of others. Rather than elevating themselves, great leaders lower themselves and elevate others.
How can we also move down that path? Consider these three “habits of humility” and see what others you can add to the list.
- Think about yourself less: Pay attention to your thoughts. You can lead them; they don’t have to lead you. Take note of how often you are thinking about yourself—what you want, what you deserve, how you’ve been treated, etc. Recognize those thoughts and replace them with thoughts about people you are thankful for, people whom you could serve, and people who are overlooked.
- Talk about yourself less: Replace “I” with “you.” See if you can keep yourself out of the center of the conversation. “Let someone else praise you and not your own mouth” (Proverbs 27:2). Affirm and applaud those around you. Ask about their interests, pursuits, accomplishments, and challenges.
- Pray for yourself less: I was surprised when I realized how often I pray for myself. They’re not overtly selfish or proud prayers, but they do center on my situation, my decisions, and my responses. Make a conscious effort to pray for yourself less and pray for others more.
Humility is an essential and timeless mark of great leadership.
REFLECT
- Think about your position, authority, and influence.
- How could those platforms be used to elevate yourself?
- How could they be used to elevate others?
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Long before TED Talks, best-seller lists, podcasts, and conferences, there was a man whose influence and impact changed the world. He came to be known as the Apostle Paul, and he can teach us quite a bit about leadership. "Follow Me" takes leaders back to ancient principles and propels them forward into lives of greater influence. It's 1st-century wisdom for 21st-century leaders!
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