Reflections on Leadership

Lately, I have had more time for reading and reflection. Usually, I am buried in a new book, one which challenges and stretches me in my understanding of our calling in Christ. But today I found myself between books and looking to refresh myself with a book from my journey. So, today’s reflection is from a classic on Leadership, Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders.

And maybe you’re tuning out right now because you don’t see yourself as a “leader.” Well, the truth is that Leadership is about influence, not position. If there’s someone who is learning from your interactions, you are a leader. If not, you should carefully consider what we are called to in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). If you are a child of God, you are expected to be about the mission He gave all of us, making disciples. That’s a lot of “if” clauses, but, if you’re still tuned in, read on.

Sanders’ book has been one of the most-used guides to leadership excellence for every believer since the late 60’s, and I wanted to share with you his list of the Essential Qualities of Leaders:

Discipline: In order to lead others, you must be able to lead yourself well. This has historically been done thru the practice of Christian disciplines. Sanders emphasizes one about the others as being essential to godly leadership. Can you guess which one? Bible reading? No! He says that prayer is probably the most significant discipline in shaping the character of a Christian leader. So, how are you doing here? How’s your prayer life?

Vision: By vision, Sanders means the ability to communicate a compelling future state and the proposed path to that destination. Vision is important to leadership because it fosters optimistic hope. People who follow want to know that the leader has a clear idea of where they’re going. But vision also includes ability that many “visionaries” lack, namely the capacity to foresee the results of implemented decisions. Vision without sensitivity to context can quickly become abusive. Do you understand the circumstances into which you are speaking?

Wisdom: This is one that is often misunderstood. The accumulation of information is knowledge; discerning the correct, God-glorifying application of information is wisdom. And wisdom comes with time. This is a place where the church often finds itself doing things backwards. We tend to celebrate the young, hip, new person and cast aside the seasoned saint who has had years of trial-and-error ministry behind him/her. Wisdom trumps hip every time.

Decision: The reason prayer and vision are so important is that leaders need to make decisions. There is nothing more futile or frustrating than a leader who is indecisive. This is not the same as being rash. It involves acquiring all the facts, analyzing the context, and prayerfully seeking the Lord’s guidance before acting.

Courage: This is another area that is often misunderstood. Some would argue that courage is demonstrated in resolute confidence in and conviction concerning your plan. Rather, biblical courage is resolute confidence in the Lord and openness to conviction from His Spirit and His people. It is also the understanding that, as you lead, you expose your back to those who follow. Leaders often receive their wounds from “friendly fire,” those who have fears or ambitions. The courage of a leader is driven by principles that flow from theology. You have to fear the Lord more than slings and arrows, even those from “friends.”

Humility: Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking about yourself less. A leader understands his/her strengths and weaknesses. And humility is something that develops and grows over time. A humble servant is one who is modeling his life after the perfect Leader, Jesus Christ, who considered His position in Heaven nothing, came low to meet us in our need, served His sheep, and even died for them. Is this your understanding of humility, or do you think humility means not receiving recognition for the good that you do? That is false humility, something Jesus never practiced or condones.

Integrity & Sincerity: Sanders placed these last in his list, but this is one place where everyone in leadership struggles. Without these qualities, followers will lack trust. So, do you own your mistakes? Do you confess your failures? Are you known for being a person of principle, not swaying with circumstances, a reed blowing in the wind? And in your communication, are you honest? I don’t mean lawyer-honest, where you speak in half-truths that are intended to convey something different than reality. (Apologies to any thin-skinned lawyers out there; I got that expression from my dad.) I don’t mean wordsmithing your way around a difficult situation. I mean saying, “I really don’t know” when you don’t, not “We’re looking into several options.” Leaders communicate rather than manipulate. And remember, leadership is all about relationship. It’s intrinsic to the very concept, right? A leader who doesn’t have anyone following is just out for a walk.