Easter Celebration:Time To Emulate Leadership Style Of Jesus Christ Has Come

By Adunni Adesola

As Nigerian Christians join their counterparts all over the world to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ today, Integra Leadership Foundation challenged Nation’s Leaders and Christians all over the world to emulate Jesus Christ leadership traits by promoting peace and harmony in the country as well as learning from Jesus seven principles of leadership.

Adunni Adesola

Jesus Christ is an incomparable personality to none in human history. His birth, His life, His ministry, His death, His resurrection and His ascension to heaven make him such a unique leader among all leaders that have come and gone. Jesus Christ is in fact the greatest leader at all times. He is the essence of leadership. Jesus stands incomparable amongst the world’s greatest philosophical and moral leaders.

Socrates taught forty years, Plato fifty, Aristotle forty but Jesus’ public ministry lasted less than three years, yet the influence of his life far outweighs the combined 130 years of the three greatest philosophers of all antiquity.

Jesus never painted a picture, yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, and many other artists found in him their inspiration. Jesus did not write any poetry, but Dante, Milton and other world’s greatest poets were inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not write any music, yet Hayden, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, Mendelssohn, and myriad of others reached the highest perfection of melody in compositions about him.

I will even add that Jesus did not officially write any book, yet millions of books have been written about his life and teachings. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was inspired by the principles of his teachings that guided him with the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit; he challenged the U.S. despite daily threat of death to free his people from the bondage of slavery, oppression and shackles of injustice.

From his humble birth in Bethlehem stable to his death on the cross, Jesus lived an exemplary life. He lived on this for only thirty-three years and yet left such a legacy that remains unmatched today. The organization He founded – the church remains the most unique institution in the world and has branches in every major country of the world.

Jesus leadership principles are taught today in business schools around the world. His leadership style is used, taught and applied in major corporations around the globe. Jesus was not only a great teacher and the redeemer of the human race, but the ultimate leader.

He is in a nutshell the epitome of what a leader ought to be. His leadership and legacy continues to grow with the passing of each century. His public ministry lasted less than four years and with no formal education and in the face of murderous opposition, he inspired such loyalty that his followers were willing to die for him. How did he do it? What principles did he teach and follow? Do the same principles still work today?

Many have dismissed Jesus as irrelevant to modern day thinking, yet today, millions continue to find real joy, peace, happiness, and hope in him. His life’s principles have helped millions to find purpose, passion and power for living.

As we celebrate this season, INTEGRA LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION, being an advocate for good governance and leadership development enjoining all acclaimed leaders in the world, more importantly in Nigeria as we approach the political year to emulate the most seven significant principles that Jesus lived out and modeled for leaders of every generation. Jesus was inherently gifted with many leadership qualities such character, courage, compassion, competence, confidence, integrity, power and authority.

Jesus leadership skills were innate and inborn. He is the master leader. He taught and lived the following seven principles of leadership; Succession, Teamwork, Motivation, Commitment, Mentoring, Performance, and Humility.

For the purpose of this publication, we shall briefly enumerate on two most significant which should be applied as a matter of urgency which are SUCCESSION AND COMMITMENT.

Succession – Leadership transfer and transition. If anyone aspires to become a great leader, he must start from the first day of service to search, recruit and train someone to take over from him. Leadership succession must start immediately. As soon as a leader is installed, he or she must begin succession planning and selection as Jesus did.

The moment Jesus announced his vision; he began to recruit men who will succeed him. Jesus did not waste time to start the process of succession when he divinely saw the potentials of Peter, James and John.

Today’s leaders have nightmares when it is time to relinquish their position of power and authority, most especially, Nigerian leaders.

Succession is the last thing our leaders think about, as we can see in the case of Osun State right now. Even at the end of their term, Nigeria and even African leaders always find a way to remain in power. Yet, Jesus demonstrated that this principle of succession and transfer of position of power works even to the leader’s advantage.

In many cases relinquishing position of authority makes the leader to enjoy admiration, praise and honor than when that leader remains in power. Today’s leaders must learn not to preserve their position of power at the expense of future leaders. Leaders must challenge followers to become leaders themselves.

A leader must lead to advance the leaders of tomorrow and by so doing they create leadership reservoir for future generation. People holding any position of power and authority must realize that they can’t live, lead or last forever.

Therefore they must begin early to search for replacement. The overriding need of leaders, if it is to discharge its obligation to the rising generation is to recruit, teach, train, mentor and prepare young people who are strong, courageous and wise for leadership positions. Many nations have always prospered from successful leadership succession.

Commitment. The second key principle for effective leadership clearly exemplified in the life and leadership of Jesus was commitment to the heavenly vision.
Commitment to purpose is also a significant demonstration of love of the leader toward his or her people. A leader must first commit to God, which involves personal cost, self-denial, and hard-work and personal sacrifice.

Commitment always leads to trust and loyalty. Without the aforementioned, a leader cannot get extraordinary things done. Commitment is not a compromise but trust, loyalty and credibility. Trust, loyalty and credibility must be earned in order to receive them.

A leader who consistently exhibits humility will not only achieve great success but will become a great leader. On this note, We urged Nigerians to emulate this principle to save our nation from all inadequacies. As Jesus urged followers to take up their cross and follow Him because He knew better than anyone else. I boldly urged our nations leaders and followers to emulate Jesus character,His principle and take up their cross too then follow God passionately in the governance of this Nation Nigeria.

Written By
Adunni Adesola Samuel
Director of Secretariat and Electronic Information, Integra Leadership Foundation.