Humility. Giving. Sacrifice.

Whether you consider it gospel, history, or myth, the traditional story of Christmas makes for a compelling tale filled with leadership lessons. A young peasant girl is chosen by God to fulfill an ancient prophecy and change the path of the entire world. Together with her fiancé she has to make a long journey that ends with the birth of baby Jesus in a dirty stable, surrounded by animals, and shepherds sent by angels.

And like all good stories, the Christmas story is rich with lessons. As familiar as it is to most of us, we can always approach it willing to learn.

Here are some of the central tenets of Christmas, rewrapped for leaders:

Humility

Given an important assignment, it’s only human to want to show off a little. Even if we don’t say it out loud, we like to think that we’ve earned any such distinctions on our merits—that our talent, hard work, and good nature make us more deserving than those around us.

In contrast, when Mary received the news that she was to be the mother of Christ, her response was so exceptional that it’s formed the basis of hymns and countless works of art as the Magnificat “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord,” she said.

As leaders, when we have a task before us of importance, responding with Mary’s humility reorients our thinking so it’s not about us but instead about playing a role in the bigger scope of things. The willingness to give of ourselves in humility, without reservation or self-interest is what can set us apart as leaders.

Giving

Giving gifts is among the first associations people have with Christmas, and at the center of the Christmas story – God gave his only son, Jesus.

Ideally, Christmas reminds us of the joy of giving—but too often we approach it not from that spirit but from a place of obligation. As leaders, we can counteract that by seeing the results of the things we’re able to give. When someone thrives in a new role under our mentorship, or learns a new skill that we’ve helped them explore, or benefits from our generosity, we can fully appreciate being in a position to give.

Sacrifice

It is the willingness to make sacrifices for the benefit of others that’s at the heart of leadership, and that sacrifice is ultimately what the Christmas story is about. Superficial leaders often get superficial results, but those who give deeply of themselves can accomplish spectacular things.

This Christmas, I hope that you will think about Humility, Giving, and Sacrifice. For effective leadership, these three attributes are not optional, but essential.