SHEPHERD PEOPLE

PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS Series 20

SHEPHERD PEOPLE

Shepherds are leaders who provide vision and direction to help people arrive at their destiny. When people have no shepherd they become weary and scattered. They aimlessly wander in life. We all need shepherd, leaders who are interested in our well being and all-round development. Shepherds are leaders who want to help us achieve success in life.

Shepherd-leaders are great people who want us to become great in life. They love us, lift us and lead us. They tell us we can do it when we think we cannot do it. They challenge us, charge us and show us the way to get things done.

Shepherd-leaders don’t lead us astray and will not allow us to go wrong direction. They have both a rod and a staff: they guide us with the staff and correct us with the rod. Shepherd leaders will not allow us to do wrong though it’s the popular thing to do. They guide us to the right path though not convenient. They challenge us with work. They charge us with words, and show us the way though rough, winding and uphill. They take us through difficult terrains until we develop what it takes to win the game of life. They are leaders of moral character.

To shepherd people, you love them, lift them and lead them.

Love people. Have them at heart. Let good flow from your heart to people. Think well about them and do them good. Loving people can expose you. People can be unpredictable. Be wise while showing love. My advice is to combine practical love with a standard of discipline. As you show love to people let them know your rules of life, let them see you as a person of discipline, let them know the bounds beyond which they are not allowed to cross in your relationship.

Lift people. To conveniently lift somebody up you need to be higher than them. Lifting people means to encourage them, educate them, and edify them. Shepherd-leaders are lifters of people. They are encouragers. They are teachers. They enlighten people. They develop people. They add value to people’s life. They want to increase you, improve you, and edify you. When you connect with a lifter you don’t remain on the same level. Consider becoming a lifter of others. When you connect to people as their lifter they will willingly choose you as their leader.

Lead people. One of the best things you can do to people is to provide for them an effective godly leadership. Leaders have clear vision of where they are going and sound character to influence people to willingly follow them. 

To provide effective leadership therefore you should know where you’re going in life and have moral character to influence people to follow you. If you’re going to shepherd people you’ve got to have a clear vision of your purpose and develop attractive character base. You need attractive character as a solid base on which to build effective leadership. That’s what great leaders do.