Q&A - How do I lead with someone I don’t really like?

 Q: How do I lead with someone that I don’t really like?

A: hahaha. I love the honesty that it took to ask this question. I’m sure there’s someone out there with a super spiritual answer, but when it comes down to it, it’s just hard. There are people you don’t jive with sometimes, but there are things you can do to still have a good relationship:

1. DON’T be a jerk.

You probably already knew that, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. As a leader, you really need remind yourself to treat people as Jesus would. That means no sideways glances or pointed comments. Not only is that person going to see it, so will the rest of the team. And you’ll walk away realizing you handled things wrong. Being a jerk will do much more harm than good.

2. Earnestly look for things you like/admire about them.

Maybe her personality isn’t your favorite, but she’s always praying for people. Start there. That’s something to admire. I’ve found that even if I have to look for it, just about everyone has something admirable about them.

3. TELL THEM what you like or admire about them.

“I love seeing you pray for people week in and week out. I’m grateful you’re here.” That’s all it takes. The key is to mean it though. Don’t lie to the person. That won’t help a thing. Lying falls under the being a jerk category from point 1.

4. Love them for who they are

The greatest measure of how well you’re loving someone is how well your praying for them. Pray for the difficult people. (Lord knows they need it.) Something happens when you do - the people you pray for tend to win your affection.

You might not be best friends with everyone on your team. That’s okay. You can still lead them. You can still love them. You can still work with them. You can still have a good relationship. And when you do the 4 things above, you might end up liking them