Leadership Torque

What Differentiates a Leader From a Follower? "Intentional Influence"

Intentional Influence, would have to be near the top of the list of what qualities you would like in a leader, that aren't witnessed in the life of a follower.

A leader has to have the ability to influence people toward a desired goal. Many authors actually use the word influenceto define leadership. We feel the affects of influence everyday, from the media, from our friends, people we work with, family, etc. But a leader has to have the ability to intentionallyinfluence someone in a way that is beneficial and healthy for that person and for the associated cause.

Reams have been written on what influence is and how you can develop it and steward it, but there are question/s you must ask yourself now:

• Who do I influence?
• How strong is that influence?
• What makes me so influencial to those I influence?
• How might I leverage my influence for the good of others?

Spend some time on these, the results will be very helpful to you.

If, however, you are feeling miserable after pondering these questions, then maybe this will help. Examine the lives and leadership of the top three people who influence you:

• Why do they influence you?
• What is it about them that causes you to want to follow their lead?
• At what point do you know you are influenced by them and what does that actually look like?

Now begin to replicate those things in your life and watch your influence grow.

Ones audience is never just the audience

I've learnt something quite significant over the last week or two, that I previously had not really seen, but having now observed feel far more informed when it comes to making leadership decisions, which I hope you too will be.

When situations requiring leadership decisions be made one always assume the subject and the object. What is the decision and who will it affect (the inner audience). Several weeks ago I needed to make a call on a particular situation involving a person. I weighed up the pros and cons, the person's situation and the best possible outcome for all and I made the call.

What I did not realise at the time was that this person had informed a variety of others (the outer audience) as to part of their side of the situation. This then meant that after I had made the call, thinking it was as simple as: this person; the situation (which was very minor); and myself. I soon found out was not at all simple, due to the fact that others had been brought into and introduced to half of the issue. When my decision (unbeknownto me at the time) was relayed to those in the outer audience, I found myself in the tricky situation of having to defend my decision not from the inner audience but the outer audience.

Inner audience: those who are affected by the issue, situation or decision.

Outter audience: those who do not gain or loose from the decision but have been drawn into it through miscommunication of the issue, by one or both parties.

What I have learnt is:

• Always realise and think about the outer audience when it comes to communication of the issues and process surrounding them.
• Never allow the outer audience to determine or influence your decision.
• Don't feel like you have to justify your call to those who are not involved in the issue.

Becoming the future you desire to see

It is said that you can only lead somewhere that you've already been. Maybe 'It also should be said' that you can only lead someone to become someone who you already are!

 

It dawned on me this week that leadership of people is not only about leading them toward a future of unchartered purpose and promise, but more centrally it's about leading your followers to become people who live Gods promise. Our task as leaders isn't to merely point tour followers in the right direction, or show them what we think the way is. Our task as leaders is to become the people we feel God wants our followers to become and then encourage, equip and teach them to become like us.

 

If you want your followers to be selfless servants, then first you must become a selfless servant.

 

If you want your followers to be passionate prayers, then first you must become a passionate prayer.

 

If you want your followers to love people who are far from God, then you first must love people who are far from God.

 

If you want your followers to be devoted worshipers, consistent Bible readers, keen and humble learners, sold out for Christ and his vision for you, then guess what? You too have to become that!

 

Did you notice also, that you have to not just 'do' these 'tasks' but you must become this kind of person. If you become the person you're passion and influence will be irresistible. If you do the task when you feel it's needed then you'll followers will become like that, except they'll rarely see the need!

"Given" Leadership

I found myself shocked the other day. I bumped into someone who had come to our Church just a couple of months prior, and then vanished. I asked him how he was and what he was up to and he said "I'm really great, I'm going to another Church now and have been given leadership." I was stunned. For several reasons:

1. From previous conversations I knew that the young guy in questions was struggling with central issues of faith.

2. He had been given leadership before he actually joined the Church, or knew if he liked it.

3. Leadership isn't a trophy you hold above your head and proclaim 'I have achieved this status', which is what this young guy was doing.

It makes sense in this day and age that many people view leadership like this and my gut feeling is that those who do are destined for disaster. Leadership is about serving people, about giving your life to a cause and through that commitment and devotion influencing others to follow you. I think if the obtaining of leadership is something you want to celebrate then maybe leadership in the Church isn't the best fit for you or the Church?

Be Bold and Couragious

When God encourages Joshua early in the Campaign into Cana he says multiple times be strong and courageous. After this happens though Joshua goes to his people and speaks to them giving them instructions. And this is what has gripped me, their response to Joshua after being lead for so long by Moses was:

^{Joshua 1:6} Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"

They committed their full allegiance to him with one proviso. The same instruction that God had given him. "Be strong and Courageous". The people Joshua was leading asked that he could be strong and courageous, because they knew their courage and strength would follow if there leader was those things.