Leadership without connection is like a rope tied in a knot, holding but never truly binding hearts together. We may guide tasks, manage outcomes, and measure progress, yet without love and compassion woven into the fibres, it becomes hollow — mere management.

God calls us not only to lead but to connect. To listen with both ears and heart. To see those entrusted to us as image-bearers of Christ, not just as roles or responsibilities. Leadership shaped by faith is leadership that mirrors Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who knows His sheep by name and calls them tenderly.

Connection transforms leadership from control into care, from hierarchy into service, from performance into purpose. When love and compassion are present, leadership becomes a sacred trust, a space where others are uplifted and seen.

Recently, I was struck while reading one of John Maxwell's books. He makes it a priority to connect with his assistant every single day, 365 days a year, even if just for five minutes. That simple habit speaks of honour, attentiveness, and value. In stark contrast, during the last six months of my previous job, my boss only met with me once a month for an hour. No wonder I felt ignored. His confession in December — that he had indeed been ignoring me — only confirmed the ache I carried.

That neglect struck a major chord, echoing the unresolved wounds of childhood emotional neglect. The silence and absence of care triggered retaliation through my own withdrawal and silence. It was as though the little girl inside me was still trying to make sense of being unseen. Through prayer ministry for self-sabotage, this issue unexpectedly took over the whole two-hour session. Layer by layer, the pain was unravelled, and the connection to my past was revealed. For the first time, I was finally able to bring those vows and responses to death at the cross.

There, at the cross, Jesus lifted the burden I had carried for so long. In His presence, silence was no longer a prison but a place of peace. What had once bound me in self-protection was now broken by His love.

True leadership requires presence, not just authority. It thrives in the small, consistent touches of care. The absence of that rhythm communicates neglect, whether intended or not. Yet even in that painful experience, God is using it to sharpen my discernment. I now know the kind of leader I want to be — one who never leaves people feeling unseen.

May we never settle for management alone. Instead, may we have the courage to care, the faith to connect, and the humility to serve.

🙌 Prayer:

Lord Jesus, teach me to lead like You — with love, integrity, and courage. Help me to see each person not as a task but as a soul, worthy of compassion and connection. Let my leadership be an overflow of Your heart. Heal the places in me where neglect has left its mark, and use them to cultivate in me a tender attentiveness. Thank You for the cross, where every vow of withdrawal and silence is brought to death and exchanged for Your freedom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.