Practicing the habit of maintaining supportive relationships is essential for the leader who seeks to lead like Jesus.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Practicing the habit of maintaining supportive relationships is essential for the leader who seeks to lead like Jesus. When we rely on our own perspective, we can begin to rationalize, and blind spots will form that keep us from seeing our own faults and mistakes. To keep this from happening, we need a small group of “truth-tellers” in our life who hold us accountable and help keep us on course.

Supportive relationships mean being in regular interaction with people who will provide you with the encouragement and accountability that you need to continue growing and maturing as a Christian leader. Here are three suggestions to help you find and maintain supportive relationships in your life and leadership:

First, you must seek out supportive relationships. Finding your small group of truth-tellers takes time and effort, and will not happen until you start actively looking to find them and not giving up until you do.

Secondly, to establish supportive relationships with others, you must be a supportive friend yourself. The old saying goes, “to have a friend, you need to be a friend.” You must be willing to be the friend to others that you want others to be to you.

Third, you have to grow supportive relationships. Developing the kind of relationships where people can truly be open and honest with each other takes time. You must get to know one another, and over time you will gain the trust necessary to open up to each other. Of course, a good place to start is by studying the Bible and praying together. But don’t stop there. Plan some time for having cookouts, playing golf, or going fishing with each other. Better yet, find a ministry in your church or local community where you can serve together.

Strong supportive relationships, at work and in life, are critical to maintaining effective and sustainable leadership. So, who are the truth-tellers in your life that help you stay on course towards becoming the leader that God meant for you to be?

Written by Fred Waggoner