John Stanko

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God" - 1 John 4:7.

Love can be increasingly found as a topic of discussion in business circles. It is described as a competitive advantage for teams who not only function well together but also have genuine affection for one another. This may be a revolutionary thought and concept for modern leaders, but it is not a business idea, but rather a God idea! The question of whether leaders are born or made is answered by today's verse, for it clearly states that anyone, including a leader, who loves is born of God. Therefore, loving leaders are 'born of God' and then made, for this kind of love is not a human but rather a divine characteristic that serves and gives just as God does.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Your Step today is to determine whether or not you have incorporated love as one of your leadership values and characteristics. Do you agree that love has a role in your leadership? What tangible evidence can you provide showing love is a trait that finds its way into your leadership style and decisions? What more can you do to manifest Christ's love as you lead? Does love mean simply doing nice things, or can tough love (making difficult decisions that may cause pain but are in the good of the individuals or organization involved) be part of the equation?