A Conversation On Leading
Lately I've been thinking about leading and what it means to lead. I've read a lot of books on leadership, some by CEOs, coaches, war heroes, and I usually come away with some good insights but not really satisfied. There always seems to be another book on leadership, just one more book to buy. Why? I think it's because I still don't know what leadership means. What I've read communicates that leadership is about a "title." It's about power. It's something to be grasped or a skill that had transferable steps to be mastered. However, leading seems more "put on you." Leading means that there is influence. Over time, you've earned the right to influence, not because you will it but because others "put" influence on you. Leaders lead with a voice that others want to be influenced by. Isn't that one of the characteristics of leading? What you have to say is impacting and carries authenticity. So much so, that people start to ask,"Where are you going?"
This is true of Jesus. Those that followed Him were so intrigued with His life style that they wanted to know more. They like what they heard but not in a way that makes you laugh or cause you to agree with what is being said, only to forget later. What they saw and heard helped them to evaluate their life. He made them want to sit down and take in all His teaching. Jesus had that affect on people. People sat and listened for hours. I always wondered when I read these stories in the Bible of those thousands listening to Him if these people had jobs. I guess I would have skipped work if I encountered a person like Him. I do that now. I read those passages in Matthew or Luke and I'm thinking whoa, can I just stay and soak all this in? What an amazing example of leading. I guess that's why reading about Jesus never gets old. It seems so simple, dynamic, real in how He lead. It makes me think that I should take a sabbatical from other ideas of leadership and just sit a little longer with Him. After all, I've got the time.
This is true of Jesus. Those that followed Him were so intrigued with His life style that they wanted to know more. They like what they heard but not in a way that makes you laugh or cause you to agree with what is being said, only to forget later. What they saw and heard helped them to evaluate their life. He made them want to sit down and take in all His teaching. Jesus had that affect on people. People sat and listened for hours. I always wondered when I read these stories in the Bible of those thousands listening to Him if these people had jobs. I guess I would have skipped work if I encountered a person like Him. I do that now. I read those passages in Matthew or Luke and I'm thinking whoa, can I just stay and soak all this in? What an amazing example of leading. I guess that's why reading about Jesus never gets old. It seems so simple, dynamic, real in how He lead. It makes me think that I should take a sabbatical from other ideas of leadership and just sit a little longer with Him. After all, I've got the time.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 3:31 AM.
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Bob,
Right on dude! I love the way you laid out leadership from a Biblical perspective. One of the greatest books on leadership is by Dr. Larry Richards entitled "A Theology of Leadership". It was written in about 1979. This book was way ahead of its time. I strongly recommend you give it a look - it has nothing to do with the CEO model :-). My favorite Scritpture on leadership is found in Mark 10:35-45.
Blessings,
Ed
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