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3 Ways to Be an Upside-Down Leader
An upside-down leader is a leader who remembers what kingdom they have been called to expand.
We rightly make much of the “upside-down” nature of God’s kingdom. Based on the Sermon on the Mount, this speaks to the self-glorifying power and pride that characterize the kingdom of the world, as opposed to the humble, servant-oriented ways of Jesus and His kingdom. Conceptually, it’s helpful to understand the kingdom of God in this way, as it brings into focus a way of living that guards us against the patterns and norms of the world, which tempt our flesh to succumb to and obey.
So, how can we apply this as leaders? How do we become upside-down leaders? Which is a strange phrase, if we’re being honest, and already puts us in the position of having to explain what we mean. Because I might argue that even in the Christian leadership tradition, most of the books we read (some of which are really good, btw), are going to contain mostly tangible, structural, and system-based principles that are largely functionality driven, while assuming that character is a given. What I’m about to present to you is purely character-driven, trusting that the easier thing for most of us is finding and applying practical examples for how to lead our families, elders, staff, and church members.
So what are some character-driven principles for us to pray for and practice?
1. Be a Leader Who Loves
Love has taken a hit in recent decades, especially when you consider the amount of leaders who have been called out for harsh, dictatorial, and loveless leadership styles. It sounds a little obvious when you read it back: Be a leader who loves. But instead of something to “keep in mind,” what if this was actually our primary objective as leaders?
Paul was really clear. ”Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord” (Rom. 12:9-11).
A leader might subconsciously feel like “leading with love” will undermine their authority, but in actuality, it grounds it. It’s the foundation from which all other leadership principles should be formed, especially if we’re talking about upside-down leadership.
A leader who loves is someone who sees the people they lead as image-bearers of God, and never forgets that this is who they are first and foremost. When we see people as image-bearers, we are less concerned with maintaining authority over them than with modeling the fruit of the Spirit to them, looking to their interests above our own, and cultivating a heart that seeks the well-being of their hearts. Without love, it is impossible to take the lead in honoring one another. A leader who loves others is one who leads from the place of being loved by God. Pastor, do you realize how loved you are? When you do, it will radically change your approach to your people.
2. Be a Leader Who Listens
We think of leaders as being the ones who teach, instruct, tell others what to do, and enjoy being the most knowledgeable person in the room. But a leader who listens will pursue a different trajectory. They will be one who is concerned with the needs of their people over the need to make sure their ideas and intellect are on display at all times. A leader who listens values the ideas and input of others because they know that this is how God will grow their own leadership in more profound and godly ways.
Listening is an act of humility, which is why listening is so hard for so many leaders! Understandably, leaders don’t want to appear incapable. But at the core of leadership development lies the counter-cultural character of humility. Humility takes a leader down a path that opposes superiority, which is one of the fruits of selfish ambition. So every time a leader assumes the posture of a listener, they will receive the kind of counsel, perspectives, ideas, and stories that further develop the humble character of Christ in them. The alternative is to be a leader who closes their ears to everything but the sound of their own foolishness.
“And now, sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy. Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it” (Prov. 8:32-33).
3. Be a Leader Who Looks
In other words, be curious. If God has given you people to lead, don’t assume to know everything about them. If God has given you a ministry to lead, don’t assume to know all that God is doing. Curiosity helps us make a couple of excellent, character-driven moves:
- Being curious helps us to pause
It’s a good and godly thing to hit pause and wonder what the Lord is up to. The fact is that we have very little control over our lives and ministries, and when we consistently stop to acknowledge that and pray for the Lord’s leading, we keep our minds and hearts open to possibilities. But we need to stop long enough to be able to pray and see.
- Being curious provides a renewed perspective
Our assumptions often prove us wrong. To be curious about the Lord’s movements leads us to a place of renewed perspective. We remember that we don’t know what we don’t know! The reason we are curious is that we know that our vision is limited, and the Lord is moving in directions that we might only get the faintest glimpse of.
John Piper wrote, “Every day, in every circumstance, God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, but you might be aware of only three of them.” This quote can be a real shot to our egos! But it reminds us that instead of claiming infinite knowledge, we do better to be curious when it comes to the vastness of Christ’s work in the world.
“God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is!” (Ps. 139:17).
“He counts the number of the stars; he gives names to all of them. Our Lord is great, vast in power; his understanding is infinite” (Ps. 147:4-5).
An upside-down leader is a leader who remembers what kingdom they have been called to expand. They are a leader who is aware of their shortcomings and honest about their tendency to lead in a way that is driven by authority, success, and self-glorification. An upside-down leader is one who sees themselves as a servant who has been called to the humble leadership practices of their Savior, who turned the world upside down.
