I’ve long admired the work of Craig Groeschel—pastor, leadership teacher, and author of several books that have shaped how I think about life and business. He’s also the voice behind the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, which I often recommend to leaders.
This morning, I was reading one of his YouVersion devotional plans, and it really hit me. The title was A Discipline to Start, and the message was simple but profound: when the leader gets better, everyone gets better.
That statement isn’t just motivational fluff—it’s deeply practical. The health of your leadership flows into your marriage, your parenting, your friendships, your church, and your business. When you grow, the people around you benefit.
But here’s the key question Craig challenges us to ask:
“Is leading people just something I want to do, or is it part of who I am?”
The answer matters because most of us naturally set do goals:
- I want to do more with my kids.
- I want to do random acts of kindness for my spouse.
- I want to do more to empower my employees.
Those are all good things. But if you stop at the do, you’ll never reach your full leadership potential.
The best leaders make who goals:
- I will be a patient mom who loves deeply.
- I will be a husband who supports my wife and leads with faithfulness.
- I will be a manager who models integrity and consistency.
Notice the difference? The who shapes the do. The actions flow out of your identity.
Even Jesus modeled this. In the Gospel of John, He made seven “I am” statements—bold declarations of who He was. And His actions flowed from that identity. That’s why His leadership influence continues to this day, 2,000 years later.
When you know who you are, you’ll know what to do.
A Question to Ask Yourself
Instead of asking, “What do I need to do today?” try asking:
“What would the person I want to become do?”
- If you want to be a leader who cares, maybe you’ll write one encouraging note a day.
- If you want to be someone who is disciplined, maybe you’ll simply start by making your bed.
- If you want to be a leader who follows God’s heart, start your morning in conversation with Him.
The principle is simple: small disciplines done consistently lead to big results over time.
A Jenesis Example
At Jenesis, one of our ongoing commitments is to lead by serving our customers well. That’s not just a do goal (answering calls quickly, resolving support issues, and rolling out new features). It’s a who goal: we are a company that cares deeply about helping independent insurance agencies grow.
When we anchor ourselves in that identity, the “do” naturally follows—whether it’s creating software that saves agencies time, building tools like JenesisReach to help them market better, or simply sending a thoughtful thank-you gift to a long-time customer.
Encouragement for the Journey
Craig reminds us: “Do what leads you to become the who you want to be as a leader.”
So maybe the question for you today is: What small discipline can I start that aligns with who I want to become?
It doesn’t have to be big or flashy. It just has to be consistent.
And if you ever doubt the process, remember Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Start small. Stay steady. Over time, you’ll see God grow you into the leader you were created to be.
If this encouraged you, I’d recommend checking out Craig’s full YouVersion devotional and his leadership podcast—both are incredible resources for anyone serious about growing as a leader.
