You can lead people if you don't "need" people

John 2:23-25, "During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn't need any help in seeing right through them."

Jesus had no need of people therefore he could lead people. Needy leaders are grasping leaders. If we trust God to bring us the people we need, people will sense our security, that we won't "claim them" as own own, and be more likely to follow us.

A visiting friend commented, after visiting me when I was a young leader, "You see people for how they can meet your needs and help you fulfill your vision... God wants to change that. God wants you to see people for how you can help them fulfill their vision, not yours. If you will hold people with a relaxed grasp, with your hands open, God will fill your hands with more leaders than you know what to do with. But if you hold onto them tightly, then your hands will be full and God cannot give you more people, especially the right people."