Between all of our Leadership Training at Harvest and our current leadership series on Nehemiah, I thought this article I came across on the Church Leaders Intelligence Report was pretty relevant. Check it out....
The act of leadership is a basic part of the Christian life. True, some are spiritually gifted for the task of leading others, but Christ calls all believers to servant-leadership in the areas of our influence. Leaders include mothers and fathers, executives and missionaries, pastors and elders, commanders and soldiers, coaches and mentors, friends and family. In fact, any role that affects or influences another life, whether positive or negative, specific or general, obvious or covert, are leadership roles. And all leaders must make personal and active choices about how, when and to what end they will exert their influence.
Specifically, leadership falls into two categories: Life-Role Leadership and Organizational Leadership. Life-role leadership functions in enduring relationships, such as family, friendship and citizenry. It focuses on growing and supporting a mutual commitment to one another and may involve seasons of sacrifice and differing levels of influence based on maturity. It tends to be resilient and anticipatory of forgiveness, love, loyalty, trust and forbearance. Organizational leadership involves a position bestowed by an organization to serve its perceived needs. Accountability and performance is regularly measured and scrutinized; conflicting agendas and priorities tend to affect influence levels. Its values include competence, vision, courage, diligence, confidence and results.
The biggest difference between these types of leadership involves the permanence of the relationships involved. Many of the leadership influence that shapes our lives comes from the first leadership category; however, in the early church, the former category was a prerequisite for the latter. (See 1 Timothy 3:1-7)
Suffice to say, whether you are a parent, spouse, family member, friend, co-worker or citizen—or whether you have a formal title like CEO, pastor, coach, teacher or manager—you are a leader! As you consider each relationship, ask yourself: Will I serve or seek to be served? Will I love others or expect love from others? Will I lead like people, or lead like Jesus?
Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Role Model of all Time,
W. Publishing, (Thomas Nelson) 2005.