To build trust, a leader must exemplify three qualities: competence, connection and character. People will forgive an occasional mistake based on ability, especially if they can see that you’re still growing as a leader, but they won’t trust someone who slips in character. If a leader has an occasional lapse in character, it is lethal. No leader can break trust with their people and expect to keep influencing them. Trust makes leadership possible. Read Judges 13:24 – 16:31.

In The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Maxwell looks at Samson and the Law of Solid Ground.

Sometimes very unlikely candidates can become influential leaders. People do not exclusively follow leaders because they have influential, attractive personality traits but because they have relevant gifts. Read Judges 11:1-31.

Jephthah was Israel’s ninth judge. He was born the son of a harlot, driven out of his home and stripped of his inheritance by his father’s wife’s sons and had to flee the land to escape from his brothers, yet, 11:1 calls him a “mighty warrior.”

A leader’s reputation is what people think of them here and now; a leader’s legacy is what people think of them after they are gone. Read Judges 10:1-6.

Israel slipped back to idol worship after each judge over a couple of centuries so it may be unfair to “pick on” Tola and Jair concerning a legacy but their example serves as well as any. Tola and Jair did a good job of leading the Hebrews but immediately upon their deaths, the people began serving the gods of Baal.

There is a misconception that the leader must be the strongest, most intimidating person in the room. Yet the Bible tells us that godly leaders are motivated by service not power. Read Judges 9:1-21.

Jotham used creative imagery as he made his point about his treacherous brother. In his parable the trees were looking for a leader. They first selected qualified but unwilling trees but ultimately resorted to a worthless, parasitic plant, the thornbush. It had nothing to offer and everything to gain by becoming the leader.

A leader’s self-promotion may “work” in the short term, but over the long haul it almost always fails. Read Judges 9:1-57.

At first glance, Abimelech seems like a candidate for leadership. He is a gifted communicator and skilled tactician; he set his heart on becoming ruler of his people and he had a passion to lead. But leadership “qualities” alone doesn’t mean a potential leader will be a fit leader.