Lead with Kindness

Theme: Lead with Kindness

Verse: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32

You may or may not like Alabama football, but you can’t argue with the success Hall of Fame coach Nick Saban had in Tuscaloosa. Given that success, I thought it might be worth digging into his leadership philosophy. oai_citation:1‡WI 3-12-26.docx

One of his top leadership principles is the theme of this week’s devotional — Lead With Kindness.

Leading with kindness is not always easy, but it’s exactly how Jesus lived His life. I don’t know about you, but if Jesus Christ and Nick Saban both give the same leadership advice, that’s something worth paying attention to.

So how did Jesus model this?

1. He treated marginalized people with dignity.

Jesus regularly spent time with people society rejected — tax collectors, the poor, the sick, and sinners. Instead of shaming them, He welcomed them. His actions showed that every person has value and deserves dignity. In fact, when criticized for eating with sinners, Jesus responded:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Mark 2:17

2. He practiced compassion before judgment.

This one can be especially difficult, but Jesus modeled it perfectly. When a crowd wanted to stone a woman accused of adultery, He chose mercy over punishment. John’s Gospel records Jesus’ challenge to the crowd:

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” — John 8:7

This implored everyone to examine their own lives before passing judgment on others.

3. He was a servant.

In a few weeks, Christians will remember Jesus’ final days before His crucifixion and resurrection. During His final gathering with His disciples, Jesus washed their feet — a task normally reserved for servants. After doing this, He told them:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” — John 13:14

This humble act showed that true leadership means serving others.

Dignity. Compassion. Service. What a powerful combination — and a timeless model for how we should lead and live every day.

Every interaction we have is a chance to reflect the example Jesus set. So, this week as you interact with the world around you, ask yourself a simple question:

Am I leading the people around me with dignity, compassion, and service?

Let this final thought be your guide.

It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Nick Saban’s Speech on Leadership