Good Leaders Need Competence - But It's Not Everything

In a world that often equates performance with leadership, it's crucial to understand what true competence looks like for good leaders. While skill and ability matter, they're only part of the equation for authentic leadership.

Why Competence Alone Doesn't Make a Good Leader

The world frequently makes performance the ultimate measure of leadership. We see this everywhere - from athletes who can throw a perfect pass to musicians who can captivate millions. But having exceptional skill in one area doesn't automatically qualify someone as a good leader.

You can be incredibly talented yet completely lack the discipline to manage other areas of life. A musical virtuoso might be mentally unstable, or a successful businessperson might struggle with basic personal integrity. The masses often mistake narrow success for total leadership capability.

What Is True Competence?

Competence is defined as "the ability to do something successfully or efficiently." But for good leaders, this definition needs expansion. True competence must be guided by character and integrity.

As Stephen Covey noted, trust has two components: character and competence. You need both to be an effective leader. Certification isn't always synonymous with qualification - a truth that can protect you from hiring the wrong people, trusting the wrong voices, or making poor decisions.

How Do You Develop Godly Competence?

Practice the Right Things

The saying "practice makes perfect" is only true if you're practicing correctly. Hours of dedicated practice can actually reinforce bad habits if you're not following proper technique. This is why good leaders need good coaches and mentors.

God's Word gives us the gold standard for practice: "Study and be eager to do your utmost to present yourself to God approved, tested by trial. A workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing, rightly handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Be Competent in Good, Incompetent in Evil

Romans 16:19 teaches us to "be well versed and wise as to what is good, and innocent and guileless as to what is evil." Good leaders deliberately practice wisdom and goodness while remaining detached from and incompetent in evil practices.

The Four Stages of Developing Competence

Understanding how competence develops can help you grow as a leader:

1. Unconscious Incompetence

You don't know how to do something and don't even recognize your inadequacy. Recognition is the first step toward growth.

2. Conscious Incompetence

You still can't do something, but now you recognize your inadequacy and value the new skill.

3. Conscious Competence

You know how to do something but require intense focus. Breaking concentration easily leads back to incompetence.

4. Unconscious Competence

The skill becomes second nature through extensive practice and training. At this level, you can teach others.

What Are the Dangers of Misplaced Confidence?

Both overconfidence and underconfidence in our abilities can be dangerous. Overconfidence leads to pride and ignoring risks, while underconfidence leads to fear and exaggerated risks. Both create mental anxiety and prevent effective leadership.

Studies show that when it comes to leadership, women often undervalue their skills while men tend to overestimate theirs. The key is honest self-awareness measured against God's truth, not social media delusions or false comparisons.

Why Character Must Guide Competence

History provides sobering examples of highly competent individuals who used their abilities for evil. Competence without character is dangerous and narcissistic. As Jay Shetty observed, "to build your competence without regard for character is narcissistic."

The parable in Matthew 25:23 shows us God's perspective: "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Notice that faithfulness - a character trait - led to promotion and joy. Meritocracy matters to God, but it must be grounded in integrity.

How Does Persistence Complete Competence?

Competence without persistence is useless. You might show up on time today, but what about tomorrow and next week? Consistency transforms competence from theory into practical leadership.

Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb after over 1,000 attempts illustrates this perfectly. His teachers called him "too stupid to learn," but his persistence made his competence extraordinary.

What Should You Add to Your Competence?

Second Peter 1:5-7 provides a blueprint for developing godly competence:

• Add virtue (integrity) to your faith

• Add knowledge through humble learning

• Add self-control and delayed gratification

• Add perseverance and godliness

• Add kindness and love

This comprehensive competence, marked by God's joy, will make you extraordinary in a world of incompetence.

Life Application

This week, honestly assess your competence in the areas where you lead others. Are you practicing the right things with the right character? Choose one area where you need to grow and commit to persistent, character-driven practice.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I experiencing God's joy in my areas of competence?

• Do I practice integrity as consistently as I practice my skills?

• Where am I overconfident or underconfident in my abilities?

• How can I add character to my competence this week?

Remember, you were made for competence, but it must be guided by God's gold standard. In a world of incompetence, your character-driven competence will make you truly extraordinary as you lead others toward the good life God intends.