Great leaders are willing to develop leaders.

There are a number of skills that one must possess in order to thrive as a leader. But leadership is only sustainable in the long-term through the development of new leaders.

Any great leader will tell you that they are not the be all and end all.

The truly great leaders of years gone by have possessed three specific skills, all of which are connected to the more all-encompassing skill of developing new leaders.

1. Delegation

Delegation is critically important to the leadership of any organization. A leader will likely have followers, and some of them will have the desire for leadership themselves. How will that be fostered?

A key component is in the delegation of various tasks and responsibilities.

Jesus Showed Delegation

The greatest example found in John 3, where his disciples were the ones baptizing instead of him. It was definitely an important responsibility, but he saw benefit to delegate it to the men who would lead the church in the future.

2. Trust

Trust often flows out of delegation. Once a leader has handed a task or responsibility over, walk a way or at least stand at a distance (metaphorically of course).

This leader-to-be has either stepped up on their own or something unique has been recognized in them, so why not trust that? Moreover, trust that God in his sovereignty, is working a unique plan that is worth seeing to fulfillment.

Jesus Showed Trust

I can’t think of a greater point of trust in that Jesus gives over the church to 12 fallen men. He could have stayed around longer to see the first couple of decades through, but he chose to leave them in charge.

The moment in particular, that comes to mind, would be John 21 when Jesus calls Peter three times to, “…feed my sheep.” Jesus entrusted Peter and the disciples with his sheep.

3. Patience

Once again, these three skills flow out of each other in the context of leadership development. Having patience for less-than-perfect leaders and dare I say it, their mistakes is an important skill.

Don’t run in to rescue them. Don’t look on from behind their shoulder to keep their work aligned perfectly. Allow them the benefit to fail and be patient when they do.

Jesus Showed Patience

When I think of Jesus’ example of patience in leadership, I immediately think of Peter walking on the water, found in Matthew 14.

Jesus was doing it, so Peter wanted to join him. And yet, Peter failed half way through. Jesus asked Peter afterward, “You of little faith…why did you doubt?” Jesus knew what would happen. He could have warned Peter,

“Now Peter, half way through this stroll, keep your eyes on me so that you don’t fail.”

Jesus could have grabbed his hand before he cried for help. But he didn’t. Jesus was patient enough to allow Peter to experience the moment of success and the moment of failure.

All in all, these three skills would help develop 12 not-so-likely men into the leaders that Jesus knew they would become.