A successful leader can be described by the following characteristics: 

1. Is always motivated and also, a great motivator: Every single leader needs to permanently cultivate motivation individually and towards their team. It is very easy to say and it even looks basic, but I’ve seen many leaders lose so much fruit in times of spiritual testing because of a lack of motivation. 

When someone is under pressure in their family, financially, or personally speaking, it usually impacts their emotions, weakening them to the point that giving up looks like the only way out. That’s why it is fundamental for a leader to stay motivated and also to be a motivator to others.

¿How do we do it? It is, in fact, very simple. The word of God and his promises to us, are our motivation fountain.

A leader who has a good relation with the word of God, knows that no matter the hard times, God will never break his promises about their own life nor about their team.

So, if you have been lacking motivation during times of spiritual testing, I encourage you to spend quality time with the word of God, knowing that he is faithful to do what he said he would. 

2. Stimulate personal growth: Leadership is about looking forward to the personal growth of your team members, because you will never find a person who is very successful in the ministry and at the same time fails in the rest of the areas of their life. 

Leadership provides evidence of excellence in every area of a leader’s life.  It is very interesting how Jesus taught spiritual principles to his disciples, but he also taught them how to live in community, how to prosper, and how to fully develop in life. 

3. Forge courageous people: Cowards won’t ever make courageous disciples, as well as courageous won’t ever make coward disciples. If we are looking after forging valorous disciples that may become courageous leaders, we ourselves have to be it. That is why we can’t allow fear, insecurity, inferiority or superiority complexes in our minds.

David’s example: God’s strategy to forge courageous people has not changed, he always tests our hearts in the small things; he does not give us major responsibilities, if he is not certain about us being capable of fulfilling what he would call us to do.

David was trusted with the most unimportant task because he was the youngest brother, even so, he assumed the responsibility given to him as a godly opportunity for his life; therefore, he put his heart on doing everything as for the Lord.

His job was to be a shepherd of a few sheep, which implied to lack sleep while watching over them on night. During that time, David took courage to face the wild beasts of the field, he trained by fighting against bears and lions, and was always victorious. 

It was right there, in a small place where God changed David’s heart, making him a courageous man. This perfectly explains why David decided to face a Philistine giant who defied the Israelites army, with the confidence of knowing that as God had saved him from bears and lions, so he would save him from the giant. 

Making courageous disciples just like David, requires the right spiritual formation process. The psalmist said:

Just as God worked in us in our mother's womb, he wants us to form and to teach others how to manifest as God’s children to this world. 

To get there, we need to have healthy and strong spiritual habits. It is in the hidden (in our times of intimacy with God) where we forge as courageous and valorous leaders.

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