Developing Trusting Relationships

The first phase of the Serving Leadership Journey deals primarily with self-leadership. Before leading others, one should become a leader worth following. The second phase focuses on developing trusting relationships. Those who lead themselves well build a foundation of credibility, creating an environment for strong leader-follower relationships.

These first two phases are captured in the diagram featured in this blog's image. Jesus disciplined himself first before discipling those around him which eventually resulted in a global church movement. Notice that he built this movement on the foundation of relationships—all at varying levels. ​He led three disciples (Peter, James, and John) up very close, spent most of his time with 12 disciples, and sent a select group of 70 disciples out as missionaries. After his death, resurrection, and ascension, his reverberating influence continued to inspire the world—first the 120 gathered in the upper room and then the 3000 on the first day of Pentecost. The question mark represents those of us who are part of the largest movement in the world today. By going deep with the few, Jesus catalyzed a global enterprise.

Jesus’ goal was not to build an institution but a movement; He gave us a model that is reproducible and creates environments in which people are transformed and involved in transforming others through trusting relationships.​​

[Next week we will discuss the one key difference between mules and horses and how it relates to movements.]