Trust, compassion, stability and hope
We find ourselves navigating white waters in a global experience akin to none other in history.
For most people, life in the COVID-19 era is like skating on ice for the first time with no ice skates. You hope there are plenty of people around to catch you from falling on the slippery surface - but wait, there’s no touching and there’s very few people nearby. We need proper skates because the ice stretches out before us and we don’t know how far we have to go to safety.
We need to be able to find trust, compassion, stability and hope to steady our legs and to skate more confidently into the unknown.
These four needs - trust, compassion, stability and hope - are human needs that followers seek from their leaders. Gallup uncovered this in significant research where they sampled 10,000 “followers” in organizations, schools, Churches, social networks and families. Gallup refers to these as “The Four Needs of Followers.”
When we think about the needs of followers of Jesus, these match up beautifully with how Jesus leads us. It’s no wonder that all research uncovers truths so deeply rooted in the Incarnate Word.
Followers trust leaders who lead with honesty, integrity and respect. To engender trust, leaders need a high degree of candor and authenticity. Jesus said “truly I tell you” close to 200 times in the gospels. He perfectly modeled for us the value of being honest in all our dealings, acting with integrity and respecting others.
Followers seek compassion from leaders who demonstrate caring, friendship, happiness and love. Jesus’ little flock stayed with Him. His followers thronged after him and formed crowds around Him. They felt His love and compassion, as we feel it today. As we all know, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”
When we model Jesus as leaders, we fill the needs
of our followers - in our families and work teams - with trust, compassion, stability and hope.
– Cynthia Stewart
Followers seek stability through security, strength, support and peace. The first thing that Jesus said to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection is, “Peace be with you.” He spoke directly to their fear, confusion and grief. Those words gave them everything they needed – security, strength, support and peace.
Followers find hope in leaders who lead them into a brighter future with faith, direction and guidance. Jesus grounds our faith in God. When we put on the armor of God, in faith we put on the “hopeful” helmet of salvation. He assures us of the brighter future which He prepares for us.
When we model Jesus as leaders, we fill the needs of our followers - in our families and work teams - with trust, compassion, stability and hope. Fundamentally this is what people need most to calm their fears, meet their distress and bring hope.