READ: John 10:1-16
“…and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” – John 10:3
People will follow someone who knows their names! It is very important that a leader knows the names of the people he works with. No one is a number or an object. If you want to lead people, try to remember their names and call them by name.
King David was a great leader. One of the reasons he was loved is because he was near enough to the people he led (1 Samuel 18:16). You ought to make an effort to know the names of people for these reasons:
1. Every successful leader knows the names of many people
2. People feel special when you know their names. Everyone gravitates towards where he feels special. People do not feel disregarded or despised when you call them by name.
3. When you know the names of people, they feel that you are friendly and human. People are attracted to someone who is friendly and warm.
4. Knowing people by their names connects you to them in a personal way; this creates the bond of leader and follower.
5. Knowing the names of people makes you closer to them. I sometimes wonder at pastors who may have only sixty members and cannot remember all their names. If you cannot remember people’s names, they will not like to follow you. People are less inclined to follow a distant figurehead. When you know somebody’s name, he feels you are real and he feels that you are near enough.