What does it look like to be a leader in 2014? If you look back over the last 50 years, leadership in general has changed significantly. Of the older generations still with us, we see many wonderful traits exhibited. Generally, they were dedicated, trustworthy, and honest. Here are 6 Lessons Gained from Leaders:

1. Leadership is proven over time. If you rise to a leadership position too quickly, you may miss steps along the way that can strengthen your abilities and your resolve to make it through whatever may come. “If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great.” Proverbs 24:10 (NLT)

2. Being a leader means using a lot of elbow grease. Rising to the top takes hard work. Many hours are spent outside of the spotlight perfecting a trade. Although this dedication is not seen during the learning phase, it is certainly evident as you rise along the way. Without hard work, our muscles are weak and frail when it comes time to do the heavy lifting of life. “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

3. Leadership takes focused effort. Today we have many dominating forces looking to take over our attention.. We can spread ourselves way too thin pursuing all of our options.. Find what you love and passionately live it out. Then don’t bend to other outside forces. “He (Moses) kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NLT)

4. The best leaders I know pray. No matter how sharp you are, God is better. He has better ideas and better timing. He knows what needs to be put into place to make everything work. Seek him and trust him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

5. Leaders are servants, not celebrities. They give the praise back to God. Jesus was a great example of a servant leader when he washed the disciples’ feet. The heart of a leader is shown when their motives are either turned towards themselves or the people they are leading. Let’s reflect God’s glory, instead of trying to shine our own light. “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” Proverbs 29:23 (NLT)

6. Leaders have a call to holiness. While our sins are wiped away by the blood that Jesus shed on the Cross for us, we are not given a free license to continue to sin as we wish. Instead, God draws us in to know him more. Today, many have taken a very freedom-based view of God’s love and forgiveness and cheapen the value of Jesus’s blood shed for us. We must look at our lives and remember that we are now set apart. “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)

We are in need of great leaders with these qualities to rise up; people of great character who are willing to lead the way in their circle of influence without the need for fame. As more and more of us arise as leaders, we will see our world start to balance out. We will see God lifted high. We will see a foundation being built that will have a drastic ripple effect of stability. You can be that person in your world today.