Competition sports have a winner and a loser, but they also have a next season. If you think about it, almost everything from sports to business to politics to life works like this. We play to win, but we also play to keep playing. Don’t get so consumed with winning that you sacrifice the other players or the game itself. Honor, grace, and truth are just as important as hard work, dedication, and willpower.

It is short sighted to sell the truth.
It is short sighted to sell employees for profit.
It is short sighted to sell the long term for the short term.

If you win in such a way that people stop playing, YOU LOSE.

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Proverbs 23:23 KJV

In a junior position, we often don’t realize the influence we have and the importance of “leading from below”. Not only is it possible to lead from a subordinate position, it’s potentially as important as being in charge.

Parent – Child
Teacher – Student
Manager – Employee
Coach – Player
Server – Customer

At some point we will embody almost all of the positions above. Each one comes with different responsibilities but they all have one thing in common, INFLUENCE. Whether top down or bottom up, when we communicate with humility and genuine concern, our voices are heard and they make a difference.

Increase Your Influence
Be HUMBLE. Big egos undermine influence.
Be CONSISTENT. Stability builds trust.
Be PERSISTENT. Show up in the face of adversity.

As Naaman turned away in a rage he began to mumble. I have traveled for two days, had to go through all the diplomatic crap to get across the border, I even brought a million dollars in silver to pay, and what do I get? A command to go dip seven times in the muddy Jordan River? BULL CRAP! I won’t do it! Saddle up boys, let’s go home. This was a total waste of time.

In his country, Naaman was considered a man of valor. He was a mighty warrior who had made a lot of money in battle for his king. But Naaman had a problem, he had the disease of leprosy. When Naaman’s king got wind that there was a prophet in Israel who could cure leprosy. He sent Naamna with a letter to the king of Israel. The letter read something like this… Here is my servant Naaman, please cure him of his leprosy.

The king of Israel is distraught when he reads the letter. He knows this is impossible and thinks the letter is some kind of encoded message sent to start a war. The prophet Elisha hears of the king’s distress and tells him to calm down and send Naaman to him for instruction and healing. 

So, here we are, Elisha the prophet didn’t even come outside his house to talk with Naaman, he sent one of his servants to give Naaman the prescription. Go wash in Jordan seven times and your leprosy will disappear. Long story short, as they were riding away, one of Naaman’s subordinates convinced him to follow the prophets simple instructions. He did it and was healed.

Leadership, like anything else, is based on fundamental principles. Here are a few we can learn from the story of Naaman.

1. Great leaders keep their emotions in check. Naaman went away mad, but calmed down quickly.

2. Great leaders can lead from any position. Naaman’s subordinate shows great leadership when he addresses his concerns.

3. Great leaders listen. Naaman showed real leadership when he listened to another point of view.

4. Great leaders remove ego from decisions and allow the best idea to win. Naaman showed why he was known as a man of valor when he changed his mind.

You cannot practice greatness.
You can practice fundamentals.

Get to work.

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

2 Kings 5:12 KJV

As the third group of fifty men approached Elijah’s house, the captain was shaking in his boots. He had read the reports how the first two groups of fifty had been consumed by some strange fire from the sky at the prophets bidding. He was in a bad place. He knew disobedience to the king’s order would be treason and punished by death. He also knew, if Elijah spoke the words, he could be burned to death in an instant. The captain had an idea.

The first two units had come in the name of the king with force, demanding the prophet’s obedience. The third captain decided to take a more humble and diplomatic approach. With their lives in the balance, he slowly approached Elijah’s house, took a knee, and humbly asked him to spare their lives and to come and meet with the king. Guess what? Elijah granted both requests.

You think you have the upper hand.
You think you’re more powerful.
You think you know how someone will react.

Leading with force reduces the number of possible good outcomes.
Leading with humility limits the casualties.

And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

2 Kings 1:13 KJV