We are all, always, followers. The highest ranking among us still lives under authority. He/she that no longer considers themselves a follower has ceased living a life of accountability, and God help us all.

Consequently, the best leaders were & are great followers. Having and continuing to develop certain attributes throughout life is the path to effective leadership, with or without a leadership position. In this series, I am addressing what I believe to be the top 10 attributes necessary to be a great follower, and today the topic is grace.

It is wonderful to be the recipient of grace, but a life well-lived is a life that extends grace and endeavors to never require it. Let me say it again, this way: the more grace that has been extended to us, the more we realize it as a gift we do not deserve, the more we will want to show grace to others and behave in a manner that requires no additional grace toward us. This is an ideal, obviously, but it is graceful living.

In any relationship where we are mutually submissive or directly under authority, our effectiveness is enhanced when we are growing in grace. Forgiveness when wronged, chipping in to help when disappointed, selflessly filling a gap when someone else is in crisis (even when we might not agree it’s a crisis, actually); these are all ways we extend grace. When we practice doing this in mutually submissive relationships or directly under authority, we grow this attribute such that we naturally extend it to those under our leadership when that time comes.

As I observe the world around me, I see many examples of grace-filled people. Unfortunately, I am also bombarded with examples of people lacking grace. When we allow ourselves to act in an ungraceful manner, we cannot control its effect on how we treat everyone. It’s a bit like the saying I have about myself, “I can act any way I need to in the moment, but if you want to know the condition of my heart just watch my reactions.” My reactions are not under my control when my heart is not full of grace. But if I practice grace – and practice does move us toward perfection, at least – then I will be more likely to extend grace as my first reaction when it is needed.

Would you allow me to challenge you to take a self-inventory? In the following areas, are you practicing the extension of grace? If so, you are building your ability to lead people, even if you are not in a direct leadership position now. If not, you are squandering an opportunity to encourage people and lead them to positive outcomes for all.

Politics: 2024 is going to be a challenging year in our country. Do you consider people that have different opinions to be the “opponent” or “enemy”? Or do you extend to them the grace of considering that they may want the same things as you, and the disagreement is over how to get there?

Leadership: Do you complain regularly about your leaders? At work, at home, at church, in the government? Or do you extend to them the grace of understanding how difficult it is to be in those positions of authority, and lend a constructive opinion and, more importantly, a helping hand? Do you actively encourage those in leadership, as a show of grace?

Grace is not a one-and-done proposition. You will never have extended enough if more is required.