Six Words Every Leader Should Remember
By Rod St Hill
Leadership That Lasts: Practical, Biblical, and Memorable
Thousands of books are written on leadership—many of them academic, theoretical, and complicated. But over decades of leadership in business, nonprofits, and ministry, I’ve come to rely on just six simple yet powerful words. These words shape how I lead, and they’re easy to remember and apply in any organization or team.
Whether you’re leading in a corporation, startup, church, or volunteer team, these six leadership principles will help you build strong teams, healthy culture, and mission-aligned momentum.
1. Select: Hire for Values, Not Just Skills
Effective leadership starts with wise selection.
One of the greatest risks to organizational culture is bringing on people whose values do not align with your mission.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” – Peter Drucker
To protect your mission, prioritize alignment over talent. Ask values-based questions during interviews:
- “Tell me about a time you managed conflict.”
- “What have you learned about teamwork in past roles?”
When the wrong values enter, mission drift follows. Leaders must act like ranchers—selecting only those who align with the DNA of the mission.
2. Connect: Build Trust Through Community
Leaders aren’t just strategists—they’re community builders.
A team functions best when people feel seen, known, and valued.
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks…” — Proverbs 27:23
Create connection by:
- Taking time to speak with team members
- Learning about their personal lives
- Celebrating wins and noticing struggles
Trust grows when leaders invest relationally. In a disconnected age, the workplace may be the only true community people experience. Leaders set the tone.
3. Protect: Advocate for Your Team
A leader’s job is to shield their team from dysfunction and unfair pressure.
This means:
- Blocking unproductive meetings
- Defending your people from unjust criticism
- Standing up to toxic executive demands
- Never shifting blame downward
“Shifting blame saps loyalty and morale.” – Maureen Moriarty
When staff know their leader has their back, morale, retention, and performance improve.
4. Direct: Clarify Mission and Strategy
The leader is the steward of the mission.
A great leader must:
- Clearly communicate the organization’s vision, purpose, and values
- Align strategy with mission
- Ensure the budget reflects priorities
- Reiterate the mission regularly
“Mission drift is the natural course of organizations.” — Greer & Horst
Direction creates cohesion. Without it, even talented teams wander.
5. Correct: Course-Correct with Wisdom and Grace
Correction is one of the hardest but most necessary leadership tasks.
Key questions before correcting:
- Is there a resource shortage?
- Is there burnout, bullying, or systemic dysfunction?
- Are external stressors affecting performance?
If not, then direct correction may be needed through:
- Performance improvement plans
- Mentorship and accountability
- Clarifying expectations
Biblical leadership balances grace with truth. Don’t delay healthy confrontation—it protects the mission.
6. Reject: When Necessary, Let People Go
When correction fails, tough decisions must be made.
“The mission of the organization must never be sacrificed for the comfort of one person.”
Letting go of an employee, volunteer, or team member is painful—but necessary when misalignment persists. Jesus’ parables (Matthew 25) even underscore the principle of stewardship and accountability.
Rejecting the wrong fit is an act of love—for the person and the team. Help them transition if possible, but don’t delay action.
Leadership Across Every Sector
Whether you lead in:
- For-profit organizations
- Nonprofits and missions
- Churches and ministries
These six words can guide your leadership with clarity and purpose:
Select. Connect. Protect. Direct. Correct. Reject.
They’ve served me well for decades—and I believe they’ll serve you too.