The Greek verb hegeomai means to lead, to consider, to think, or to regard as. It has two related but distinct uses: (1) to lead or be in authority over others (hence hegemon, governor/ruler), and (2) to consider or think of something in a certain way (a mental act of evaluation and judgment).
The dual meaning of hegeomai is theologically instructive. In the first sense, godly leadership is a calling to 'go before' others — New Testament leaders are hegoumenoi who watch over souls and will give account (Hebrews 13:17). In the second sense, Paul uses hegeomai powerfully in Philippians 2:3 ('consider others better than yourselves') and Philippians 3:8 ('I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ'). This second meaning reveals that Christian transformation is fundamentally a reorientation of values — learning to consider (hegeomai) things the way God does. What we regard as worthy determines how we live.