to Lead: to guide on a way especially by going in advance; to direct on a course or in a direction.
to Sacrifice: destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else; something given up or lost.
To lead in business is to be the top dog, the head-honcho, the big boss. You tell people to do something and it gets done. You run the show.
To lead in relationship is to be the example. If you want to see a quality grow in someone else, you must exemplify that quality, giving them a model to grow off of. Sacrifice is key in order to achieve this growth. You must not only exemplify the quality, but also, sacrifice your pride by being transparent in your relationship about where you would hope for growth.
For example, if you would like your significant other to be a better rollerblader you can’t simply start rollerblading more and hope they notice. You must first humble yourself and let them know that you would like them to be a better rollerblader and then, through example, show them how to rollerblade better through different styles and techniques.
Sacrificing in a relationship goes farther than your pride. If you want them to grow in certain areas, you must also be willing to grow in areas they wish to see growth in. You must take the first step. As a leader, you must be the first to sacrifice in order for others to sacrifice along side you. If it is a time issue, you are the first to make time. If it is a boundary issue, you are the first set and maintain the boundary. If it is a character issue, you are the first to admit flaw. As a leader in any relationship, whatever the issue may be, sacrifice is the most important trait.
Part of fighting for and leading a relationship is sacrificing for the best of the relationship, the other person, and though sometimes hard to see, yourself.
