Leading by the Spirit

If you’re a leader or have been a leader, you’ll know what it means to feel anxious, whether its from direct pressure or your own worries, it’s hard work managing people.

In the book of Philippians the apostle Paul shows us how to transcend the pressures of being a leader or manager and cultivate a calm presence at work. This can help you do your job well and live by the Spirit, even in the midst of great challenges. To maintain this calm there are three things we need to remember:

Who you are (Phil 1:12-16)

Edwin Friedman’s book A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix described his belief that leaders don’t fail because they lack information, skill, or technique, but because they lack the nerve and presence to stand firm amid other people’s emotional anxiety and reactivity. Knowing who we are can provide the clarify we need to remain calm under pressure. The model we have for Christian identity in Phillipians is Paul’s statement, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”. His whole life is about Jesus. If our lives are about Jesus, then we also know who we are and we can cultivate this presence.

Where you are going (Phil 2:1-16)

Both the writer of Phillipians and the readers are experiencing great anxiety, Paul is in prison and although he can see the value of being there, its likely that it will end in execution for him. Jesus’ great humility came from a place of certainty. He was meant to come to earth, teach, heal and perform miracles and then suffer and die for our redemption. His sense of purpose on earth meant that he could endure this knowing it would result in salvation, transformation and glory. When we follow Jesus, we know we will endure hardship but that we are also going to glory.

Why are you here (Phil 3:4-14)

When you are really busy at work you can get caught up in the job title you have, or the tasks you need to do, or improving the way people see you at work. Paul’s transformation from high ranking Jewish official to Jesus tragic must have been a big status change for him in the eyes of many, but Paul learned that righteousness didn’t come from someone’s achievements but could only be given by God. God gives it to those who believe and trust that Jesus had died for them. So all of Paul’s credentials and achievements he considered garbage. He just wants to know this Jesus better – this Jesus to whom he owes his very acceptance by God.

Being a leader in your workplace can have a number of challenges and constraints, but you're more likely to be able to face them and handle them well if you have a clear sense of identity and purpose. This will help you develop the nerve to develop a calm presence that embodies a deep knowledge of God and his guidance so that you can guide others.

The article was based on a series of Bible Studies on the book of Phillipians called "Being a Calm, Non-Anxious Presence"

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