The Humble Leader's Ladder
Leadership is often painted as a quest for the summit—climbing higher, gaining control, and achieving mastery. It’s a narrative that feeds our ambition and pride. But what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong? What if true leadership isn't about standing alone at the top of the ladder, but about descending with humility to walk alongside others—especially those who feel unseen or undervalued?
The real climb isn’t upward; it’s downward. It’s a journey of relinquishing ego and embracing collaboration. And this journey begins with humility.
Scripture paints a particular picture of leadership, one marked by humility, a recognition of our limitations, and an intentional climb down the ladder.
Proverbs 11:2 reminds us, “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
The moment we believe we have all the answers is the moment we begin to stumble. Now you may not be a person like that. You may be a more humble leader already aware of their limitations.
Delegate To The Strength of Others
Consider Moses, a leader called by God to lead a nation. In Exodus 18, we see Moses overwhelmed by the burden of leadership. His father-in-law, Jethro, a man of experience and wisdom, even though Moses was leading him, offers counsel by leading up. Instead of dismissing Jethro, Moses listens, responds swiftly, and delegates accordingly, recognizing he doesn't have to carry the weight alone. Carrying the weight of others is heavy and we rarely do it well enough alone. This is not weakness; it’s wisdom. It’s recognizing that God often speaks through those around us, regardless of their perceived status.
Embrace Your Weakness as a Strength
Consider those leaders who grapple with imposter syndrome, that nagging feeling of inadequacy. They may try to project an image of strength, fearing that vulnerability will be seen as weakness. To these leaders weakness is a bad, bad thing— but the Bible reminds us that true strength is found in acknowledging our weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul said, “[God] said to me, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
Boasting in weaknesses? Yeah right, Paul! I’d rather not. But here’s why: “so that Christ’s power may work through me.”
This passage isn’t just about personal faith; it’s a leadership principle. It’s an invitation to be real, to admit our limitations, and to allow others to step in and share the burden.
John Maxwell, a respected voice in leadership, states, “The greatest mistake leaders make is thinking they know everything.”
This hits at the core of our discussion. It’s the ego, that insidious whisper, that tells us we should have all the answers. Genuine leadership is less about having all the answers and more about asking the right questions. Leadership is about being real, not always having to be right or having a lot of things to say.
Leverage the Body of Christ
Paul’s illustration of the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 paints a vivid picture of this principle. Every part of the body is necessary, and no single part can claim superiority or independence. This applies to leadership as well. When leaders acknowledge their own limitations and rely on the strengths of others, they honor God’s design for his people.
Paul writes, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ Nor again the head to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’” 1 Corinthians 12:21.
This isn't just about community, but a humility-driven interdependence. If we genuinely believe that God has gifted others uniquely and intentionally, then failing to embrace their contributions is not only prideful—it’s unbiblical. Leaders are called to steward the gifts of those around them, to empower others to do the work God has prepared them for.
Recognize and Rely on the Gifts and Abilities of Others
Think about the early church in Acts chapter 6. Along the same lines that we saw Jethro influence Moses and what Moses did as he led, the apostles got even more granular. The apostles, faced with a practical problem, similar to what Moses was facing when Jethro came to him, didn’t pretend to have all the solutions. They recognized the gifts and abilities of others within the church community and delegated responsibilities accordingly. This is a powerful example of shared leadership, where everyone’s contributions are valued so each can operate in their giftings and abilities. It must work in both directions as giftings on each side are affirmed and people are released for their work.
What About The Struggle Within?
The truth, however, is not everyone is competent and gifted to care for others and not everyone is competent and gifted to preach God’s Word and lead prayer. Not everyone is gifted as a leader, but all people can lead in the right context.
For those who struggle with confidence, not having to be a phony leader, this is liberating. You don’t have to fake it. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. You can embrace your strengths, your giftings, and invite others with different strengths and abilities to join you.
Perhaps you’re a visionary, but you struggle with implementation. Invite someone with a gift for execution to come alongside you. Perhaps you’re a gentle leader, but you need someone with a more direct approach to address a difficult situation. Embrace the diversity of gifts within your team as good and rely on them.
How, then, do we practice this?
Seek Counsel: Proverbs 15:22 tells us, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Never assume you have to make decisions alone. Regularly seek the input of trusted advisors and mentors who can see what you can’t.
Embrace Vulnerability: Share your struggles, limitations, and even failures. Vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s an invitation for others to step in and strengthen areas where you’re lacking. Being real builds deeper trust and collaboration.
Recognize Gifts and Delegate Wisely: Acknowledge the unique abilities God has placed in your team. Don’t just delegate tasks; delegate ownership. When you empower others to operate in their gifts, you multiply your effectiveness. Remember, 50% of someone else doing something with momentum is better than 80 or 100% of you doing it alone.
Cultivate Collaboration: Intentionally create a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute. It’s not enough to acknowledge others' strengths—you have to actively create opportunities for them to use them. Encourage open dialogue, feedback (important), and mutual accountability.
Celebrate and Elevate Others: Follow Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 by not only recognizing others’ gifts but celebrating them. Publicly affirm people’s strengths and contributions, and intentionally provide platforms where they can lead and grow.
The ladder of leadership isn’t a solitary climb; it’s a shared journey. It’s about recognizing that God places people in our lives to support us, to challenge us, and to help us grow. It’s about embracing humility, acknowledging our weaknesses, and inviting others to join us on the ascent.
Let us be leaders who are strong enough to admit our weaknesses, wise enough to seek counsel, and humble enough to learn from those we lead. Let’s continue building a community of leaders, where everyone is valued, everyone is heard, and everyone has a place on the ladder.
As you go, make disciples who follow Jesus!
If you found value in this, here are some additional articles for you.
