Print This Article     Email This Article to a Friend       We're All Called to Be Leaders   Many people make the mistake of thinking they don't need to be a skilled leader. Before you make that assumption, ask yourself the following questions. Would you like to be taken more seriously at your workplace? Would you like to be more effective in guiding your children? Are you concerned about certain trends in your community? And most importantly, do you want to be successful in accomplishing God's plans and purposes in your life? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you will benefit from being a more skillful leader. In other words, you're a candidate for an increase in something called influence. Influence is a precious commodity in our world today. Among other things, it gives you the ability to guide your children away from dangerous pitfalls. It causes you to move ahead in your career. With a healthy dose of influence, you can make your neighborhood and community a better place in which to live. The Bible has a lot to say about cultivating the kind of influence that gives you a positive role in the lives of the people around you. As Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 NAS) Two Paths There are basically two paths you can take to greater influence over others. One path will ultimately destroy your relationships. The other will only make them stronger. Most people take the first path. They adopt a style of leadership which depends upon manipulation, intimidation and deception. A few, on the other hand, lead by gaining trust, serving, and showing genuine concern. This second, higher, form of leadership is achieved by following the Bible's precepts and principles. And although the first type may put you ahead in the short run, it eventually will only leave you isolated and ultimately a failure as a true leader. As believers, we are all called to be leaders. And as we are faithful in small things, we can be sure God is going to entrust us with greater ones. The first and most basic level of leadership to which God will promote you is one which has been called "positional authority. "It's the level of leadership that comes with increased responsibility. When you have positional authority, people will follow your lead because they have to... for a while at least. But unless you graduate to higher levels of leadership, you'll soon find your effectiveness waning. Once you've attained positional authority, you must build upon it. "Because I said so, that's why." How many parents through the ages have relied on this appeal to raw positional authority to get their way with a child? But it's not just parents who depend on the clout of position to lead. Managers across America do it every day. Positional authority is the lowest form of leadership. If you fail to cultivate any other type of influence, no one will remain under your leadership for very long. They'll leave if they can or undermine you if they can't. For lasting and increasing influence, you must develop the biblical character traits and competencies of a leader. Among these are integrity, loyalty, passion, selflessness and the ability to communicate. Develop these attributes and you'll find yourself climbing the ladder of leaderhsip and becoming more effective for God.
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