Leadership

Where have all the leaders gone? Why is it so difficult to recognize displays of leadership today? Are we in a leadership vacuum? Is failed leadership behind the failure of moral and ethical patterns of service?

The answers would seem to be yes if we consider the nature of the criticism that appears in the press and is expressed by frustrated workers and volunteers in very troubled organizations. The church, academy and marketplace declare major unresolved conflicts and challenges with their identity and viability to be a result of failed leadership.

Leadership literature has expanded significantly in the last ten years. Books are coming to the bookstores each month attempting to explain this concept and give us instruction on how to lead. Unfortunately, leadership is still not easily understood, and its practice is in short supply.

The basic question is: What is leadership? Do we have an adequate understanding? Is there a Christian view of leadership that could make a difference in these difficult times?

Most of us define leadership as decisive, appropriate and timely action on the part of a person who holds a position of authority. When we say there is no leadership, we usually mean that we feel like nothing is happening to deal with growing problems within our context. We want “strong” leadership to deal with the problems we see or dilemmas we face. Is this common understanding of a leader’s role an adequate description of leadership?

The answer to this question is an emphatic no. It is not sufficient even though it holds some truth. Leaders are in short supply in the church, academy and marketplace as a result of misconceptions of leadership and its secularization. A Christian theology of leadership has the most potential to respond to this problem. With a biblical understanding of spirituality, character and community, a Christian approach provides a powerful and effective model for leadership practice and transformation.

A Secular Perspective on Leadership

The standard model for leadership evolves and takes its shape from the predominant worldview. It places a high value on independence and self-sufficiency. The leader depends on learned skills, experiences and decision-making ability. These are regarded as the key attributes of leadership. The emphasis is on doing—accomplishing tasks, achieving goals—and little attention is given to relationships. When it exists, the relationship can be termed transactional (contractual). The model is focused on the uses of power, authority and position. With this secular approach leadership skills are focused on management, “bottom-line” outcomes and quantifiable models. The model has given us the independent “tough-minded” leader and suggests that leadership is essentially a masculine enterprise.

This view of leadership has emphasized a reverse service model in that “followers” provide service to the person in authority. Service flows up rather than down. An organization exists to facilitate the leader in accomplishing his or her goals. Within this model, relationships between leaders and others are merely a means to the end. There is a low appreciation of community but a strong emphasis on the needs of the organization. Persons are valued to the extent that they add value in reaching organizational goals. An influential model for this type of leadership comes from the military and gives us lines of authority with a very heavy emphasis on competing and winning.

The model also stresses the importance of personality or “persona” over against character. Moral or ethical strategies might be employed to solve problems but are considered secondary.

Vision comes from the leader or the needs of the organization as defined by the leader. The potential of the leader and organization is virtually unlimited, given enough skill and knowledge. There is no room for God or the spiritual dimension. The model does not recognize evil or sin as a part of culture; nor does it see God’s active involvement in history and our daily lives.

An Evolving Secular Model

New voices have been heard within the marketplace that are reshaping the accepted view of leadership. A movement is developing around a growing criticism of graduate education, clarifying distinctions between management and leadership, the influence of cultural modeling from Japan, the idea of servant leadership, inclusion of women and the introduction of the transformational leadership standard. Character, spirituality, community and relational leadership have found new adherents. The standard model of the marketplace is evolving into an understanding of leadership as an art with a focus on character and the quality of community.

This model has been developing over the last ten years and is expressed in many recent popular leadership books: The Web of Inclusion, Leadership Is an Art, Mind of a Manager, Soul of a Leader, Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership, Leading with Soul: An Uncommon Journey of Spirit, The Female Advantage: Women’s Ways of Leadership and Spirit at Work: Discovering the Spirituality in Leadership. These writings and the new movement are a response to failed leadership and an attempt to find meaning in work. While this is reforming the secular model, it still lacks a developed philosophy and a recognition of where these “new” ideas originate.

A Christian Perspective on Leadership

Christian theology contemplates the model of a triune God. From this comes the powerful image of relationships and being in community. Christian leadership is about spirituality, character and community.

The idea of the presence of God’s Spirit gives us a very strong notion of our inclusion in and empowerment for the community of God. Spirituality is the center, heart and beginning point for Christian leadership. This spiritual position determines everything, from the character formation of the leader, to the interpretation of the leaders’ vision, to the understanding that most issues of leadership can be resolved only at the spiritual (not merely at the moral) level. Developing a Christian theology of leadership accents the centrality of a radical discipleship to Christ.

Character is the conduit for producing Christian service and leadership. We lead out of who we are in Christ. Our relationship with Christ forms and shapes our person. This is a lifelong process and relies on the bumps and bruises of life to make markings that define who we are when no one is watching. We cannot separate our service and leadership from this composite picture of our values, beliefs and godly nature. Self-insight and a learning and growing disposition ensure a maturing character and a more responsive leadership style. Courage is the character trait that provides a catalysis for Christian leadership. This is a byproduct of our relationship with Christ and a fully explored self.

The Christian leader’s obedience to Christ produces service. Both the horizontal and the vertical relationship define and provide direction for leadership through service, close partnership with God and a strong concern for community. We are drawn to God’s vision of eternal life, and we know that bringing God’s kingdom to life on earth is a primary goal of leadership. This is our highest calling, our driving vision. We also know that the primary focus in this process is making disciples of Christ and bringing them into fellowship with God and God’s community. But also central is extending justice and compassion in and through every arena of life and every place where we work. God is a partner in this process and shares with us divine “power” to help us accomplish this goal. The presence of God is actively engaged in this kingdom-making process. Building community might be the most sacred of leadership pursuits, for leaders are attempting to bring their communities into full service to each other and God.

The Christian framework understands sin and the nature of evil. Therefore it is able to define reality and cultural context more clearly. It also takes a very different position when it comes to the notion of self-sufficiency. Dependence on and obedience to God is the highest and best use of a Christian leader’s time and energy. The nature of relationships in this model is covenantal and transformational.

A Definition of Christian Leadership

Christian leadership is an art form of worshiping Christ, a teaching and serving process that envisions, influences, shapes and enhances so that both leaders and followers realize God’s goals for change within their community. This definition has several important key words and concepts.

• Art form—not necessarily an exact science, but rather a creative process that comes from the expression of an individual. There is no formula for leadership behavior or personality, as it comes in many sizes and shapes.

• Worship—the process holds up something higher than itself. Christian leadership from beginning to end is done sacrificially to God.

• Teaching—the primary process of leadership. Christian leaders are “teachers” and influence by bringing others along in the learning/shaping development process.

• Service—the vehicle of the leader is the needs of others. Service flows out of obedience to a master, in this case God, who directs our leadership into service to others within our community.

• Envisioning—we measure our leaders by their ability to interpret God’s vision. Without a vision people perish, and this vision is the discovery of God’s best for us.

• Shapes and enhances—leadership is a sculpturing exercise that creates and builds in positive ways.

• Leaders—leadership is not a solo event. It involves a team, and its goal is empowerment of other leaders.

• Followers—they are an integral and potent force in the leadership process. We judge leaders by the quality of the community formed in the exercise of leadership.

• God’s Goals—we are obedient to God’s call, both individually and corporately. We seek divine direction and wisdom for our community.

• Change—the end of leadership is metamorphosis within the needs of community. This is a transformation that brings God’s kingdom to light and its practice into the world.

• Community—everything is done within the confines of relationship. Leadership accountability, service and effectiveness are measured within the standards of the community.

The Practice of Christian Leadership

The Christian leader places himself or herself into the hands of God and becomes a living sacrifice to Christ. This is expressed as a call to service. God provides the context, and the community adds the confirmation. From this spiritual relationship, accountability to God and community is exercised. To be a Christian leader is to be countercultural, to be about the process of change. The leader is a radical follower of Christ and servant to others who is marked by several key practices.

1. Serves God faithfully and obediently. Our attention and focus is on God. We lead out of this spiritual relationship to God as servant and friend. This requires a very special attentiveness to hearing God through Scripture, community and prayer. Our goal is to serve God faithfully.

2. Discerns God’s vision. Leadership is about vision. The translation of this vision into specific contexts is the role of leadership. God’s vision is in tension with current “reality,” and leadership is the process of dealing with this dissonance.

3. Develops the leadership team. Leadership is about relationships and working together for a common purpose. Solo leadership is not consistent with God, nor is it a particularly effective leadership style. We need to build a team for leadership to become effective. Spouse, family and significant others represent the informal dimensions of this, while staff and selected position holders provide the formal component.

4. Communicates, prays and teaches. Leaders need skills to function effectively. The teaching dimension serves as the primary stimulus and tool of leadership. Through it communication flows and prayer becomes an intervening variable. People of prayer are given greater access to God. This produces change, which is the goal of leadership. Effective leaders are communicators that keep the vision alive.

5. Builds God’s community. The most significant leadership task is to build community. Community is a representation of God’s kingdom on earth. It is culture, purpose, identity and God’s love. We judge effective leadership in terms of the “tone of the body” that they build up rooted in God.

6. Inculcates God’s values. Values (see Organizational Values) are a representation of culture (see Organizational Culture) and set the context for leadership teaching. Storytelling, word pictures and modeling are the leader’s tools in embedding values in the community.

7. Disciples and empowers God’s people. In the Christian model, power is dispersed. It is given away to those who would lead and serve. People in community are being prepared to have their gifts used for the vision and purpose of the community.

8. Stewards God’s resources. Management is important to effective leadership. Planning, budgeting, allocating and controlling are aspects that require attention from leaders. Stewardship builds discipline and provides a view of resources as being on loan from God.

9. Shepherds God’s people. Caring for others is the centerpost of leadership service. Knowing those who have been entrusted to us and responding to their needs is a critical leadership issue.

10. Renews God’s organization. The process of change is about renewal (see Organizational Culture and Change). Leaders guide organizations and communities to higher levels through transformation and renewal. Renewal begins with the individual and moves to the edges of the community.

11. Develops future leaders. The preparation of leaders for the community is a primary task of leadership. The successful accomplishment of this activity results in effective leadership. This is also leadership development and succession. Emerging leaders ensure the vitality of community and renewal of the organization.

Where have all the leaders gone? They are led to misconceptions about leadership. Most are content with management practices that focus on making things work. Many follow a secular model that does not produce and mentor leaders. While some are attracted to ethical decision-making, spirituality that comes from the power within and principle-centered leadership, unfortunately these strategies fall short. They explore only the fringe of what represents the most powerful potential to deal with failed leadership in our generation. We must rediscover the biblical model of Christian leadership that transforms our character, community and organizations and produces love and service to others.

» See also: Church Leadership

» See also: Management

References and Resources

J. Autry, Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership (New York: Avon, 1991); W. Bennis and B. Nanus, Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge (New York: Harper & Row, 1985); L. Bolman and T. Deal, Leading with Soul: An Uncommon Journey of Spirit (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1995); J. M. Burns, Leadership (New York: Harper & Row, 1978); J. Conger et al., Spirit at Work: Discovering the Spirituality in Leadership (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1994); S. Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1989); M. De Pree, Leadership Is an Art (New York: Doubleday, 1989); J. Gardner, On Leadership (New York, Free Press, 1990); R. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership (Mahweh, N.J.: Paulist, 1977); S. Helgesen, The Female Advantage: Women’s Ways of Leadership (New York: Doubleday, 1990); S. Helgesen, The Web of Inclusion (New York: Currency, 1995); J. Kouzes and B. Posner, The Leadership Challenge (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1987); H. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (New York: Crossroad, 1991).

—Patrick Lattore