The main issue in perseverance is whether we drift away from the word or keep hearing it, believing it, loving it and obeying it. Spiritual leaders watch Christ. Christ is what the word is about. The Son is the word we need to hear most of all. To do that, leaders must watch Jesus, and be alert to Jesus, and know Jesus and love Jesus above everything.
Spiritual leaders watch their own conduct.
The people are called to consider the leaders' conduct and imitate their faith. All Christians should be godly and set good examples, but on top of that, God himself instructs the church to look at the lives of its leaders and follow. That is why there should be higher standards for leadership in the church than for membership in the church. This is also why failures in leaders are worse than failures in members. And why restoration to leadership should be much more difficult than restoration to membership.