Framework Of Leadership Development
What is Leadership?
Noted Leadership consultant and author Ken Blanchard says “Leadership happens any time you are trying to influence the thoughts and actions of another individual to accomplish specific tasks or goals.”
John C Maxwell, the noted Church leader, author and Leadership Guru, states in the introduction to the Maxwell Leadership Bible that one of the simplest, but most profound definitions of Leadership that he has come across is “Leadership is influence”. I could not agree with him more. You look at any leaders, you will ultimately realise that they influence the lives of their “followers” in many ways, some of them good, some of them bad.
Why do we need to influence others?
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. Proverbs 9:8-9
Fruits of Labour
As a Church, Christian Organisation , or as individual followers of Christ, we are called to produce results. We are here to do His business and Glorify His Kingdom, and that happens when we bear fruits for the kingdom.
Jesus told us :
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:8
and
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16
Paul makes his mission clear
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Philippians 1:22
A Tree is known by the fruit it bears. Same holds good for a Christian .
As leaders and ministers our results are basically measured by our ability to influence the lives of others. We cannot bear fruit for Him unless we are able to influence the lives of those around us. Once we influence the lives of others we become leaders.
Our ability to influence others depend a lot on the way people feel to be around us ( in our company)
As leaders, or as ministers the results that we can produce are largely dependent on the way people feel to be around us. We cannot influence people if we do not care for others. And we are called to influence people not for our glory, but for the Glory of God. 2 Corinthians 8:21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. 1Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Our Behaviours have a great impact on the way people feel to be in our company. In Leadership Language, we call these behaviours, Leadership Styles.
2 Samuel 15:6 tells us that Absolam won the hearts of Israelites by his behavior. Modern Management research shows that the way the employees feel to work in an organisation is greatly impacted by the way the Leaders of the organisation behave in specific situations. Same is the case in Christian organisations and Churches. The way the Leaders in these organisations/Churches behave, will impact how the people feel to be in that church or in the organisation.
What makes us behave in a particular way? This is a function of Who/What we are , and the situations in which God places us.
The way we behave (Our Leadership Styles) are greatly impacted by who we are as individuals. Our Individuality is a complex mix of our Personality, the Basic Skills and abilities that we have and the Leadership Characteristics that we are endowed with.
God Equipped each one of us with characteristics and capabilities as required to perform His work.. These could be at the basic level for everyone, and at advanced level for Leaders .We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6
Basic Skills and characteristics are required for every Christian worker.
Servant Leadership Characteristics differentiate Outstanding Christian Leaders from Ordinary ones.
Apart from the capabilities and Leadership Characteristics, Our Personality plays a big role in how we behave in different situations.
But for us Christians, all these are derived out of our Christian Identity, who we are in Christ.
So the FOLD simply put, is this. Who we are, makes us behave in a particular way in a particular situation. The way we behave, impacts the way people feel to be around us, and the way people feel to be around us, impacts amount of influence we can have on others and thereby impacts the results or fruits that we can produce for the Kingdom. Does it all connect up now? In the Menorah Leadership Ministries, we help Christian Professionals, Christian workers and Christian Organisations understand these principles and apply them at work, immaterial of whether we work in a Christian organisation or a secular organisation.