For the last month, I’ve been doing interviews to better understand the challenges holding motivated professionals back from reaching the next level. There’s a lot to unpack, but in many conversations, we circled back to the leadership they’re under. It got me thinking about something foundational, the nature of God and how His nature should inform the way we lead.

We’re all familiar with different leadership styles. It came up more than once during my calls. One style I often profess and practice is servant leadership. Many of us hear this term regularly, but how often do we stop to think about where it comes from?

To me, servant leadership is about leading the way God would lead, not by placing ourselves on a throne, but by striving to reflect God’s character in how we serve others. That’s what true servant leadership looks like.

One of the most powerful scriptures shaping my view on leadership is 1 John 4:7-8:
"Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.”

I’ve heard this scripture many times, but it wasn’t until my time in theology school that it truly settled in my spirit. God is love. What a profound thought.

When you really sit with that, when you let it sink in, it shifts how you see your role as a leader. If we are striving to grow, to reflect more of God’s character, then we ought to strive to embody love.

This isn’t soft leadership. It’s not about avoiding hard decisions or shying away from responsibility. Leading with love means making decisions that are ethical, compassionate, and grounded in how we believe God would act.

Love and Leadership - What It Really Looks Like

Over the past few years, I’ve been working to grow authentically in this area, to lead with more compassion and empathy. And here’s what I’ve learned:

• Leading with love doesn’t mean avoiding tough calls. It means making those calls with care and respect. Surprisingly, this isn’t just a challenge for people in “softer occupations.” It’s a challenge for most leaders.
• It doesn’t mean ignoring underperformance. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is move someone on from a role where they aren’t thriving.
• It’s not about inaction. Compassionate leadership requires action, but action driven by a heart for others, not personal gain or impulse. It requires positioning those who want to grow and, if needed, having honest conversations when they’ve outgrown their current path.

I remember times in my career when making difficult personnel decisions felt heavy. But through prayer, reflection, and wise counsel, I’ve realized that sometimes releasing someone from a position is the best thing for them. It can be a catalyst for growth, giving them a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

The Context of 1 John - A Call for Clarity

When John wrote these words, the early church faced confusion and division. Competing ideas about God’s nature created uncertainty. John’s message was simple but profound, if you want to know God, you must know love.

It was a call for clarity and compassion, and I believe it serves as a guide for us today, especially as leaders responsible for teams, organizations, and communities.

Compassion is Not Weakness

Every organization I’ve worked with has had compassion at its core. But one thing I’ve tried to make clear is this, compassion does not mean weakness.

• Compassion means addressing challenges head-on, but doing so with the right heart.
• It means balancing accountability with empathy.
• It means seeing people, not just roles.

Sometimes the most compassionate action is a hard one. But when done in love, it has the power to transform lives and organizations.

A Reflection for Leaders

As leaders, we’re not called to be perfect, but we are called to lead well. If we truly believe that God is love, then our leadership should reflect that belief.

This week, I challenge you to reflect on how love shows up in your leadership.

• Are there areas where you’ve avoided hard conversations because you mistook compassion for inaction?
• Are there moments when you could extend grace, but chose not to?

Let’s strive to be leaders who embody love, not just in words, but in action.

At the end of the day, the best leaders aren’t the ones who wield power, they’re the ones who serve with love.

I’d love to hear from you –

• How do you see love influencing your leadership?
• What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in leading with compassion and strength?

Drop your thoughts in the comments or DM me.