The Art of Leadership
Different societies refer to leaders in different ways. Here are a few more possible names and titles for leaders. Leaders are called captains, chiefs, commanders, presidents and prime ministers.
They are also called shepherds, generals, governors, guides and pastors. Leaders are called managers, principals, counsellors and elders.
They may be superintendents, supervisors, directors, pioneers and chancellors. In other settings leaders are judges, experts, specialists, forerunners and heroes. These names and titles are important because you must recognize leadership even if it is in another sphere of life or outside your regular world.
The English language has several synonyms for the word “leader”. These different names reveal the different kinds of leaders that exist in the world. There are leaders in every sphere of activity in life.
Each sphere of activity gives a different name to its leader. Leaders in ships are called captains, leaders in planes are called pilots, and leaders of soldiers are called generals. In the political world, leaders of nations are called presidents or prime ministers whilst leaders of universities are called chancellors.
In the religious world, leaders of churches are called pastors whilst leaders of mosques are called imams. Leaders of Arab villages are called sheikhs and leaders of Ghanaian villages are called chiefs.
In the scripture below, you will notice the different kinds of leaders that were present in the city of Jerusalem. The punishment of the Lord was to remove all the different kinds of leaders from the community. We ought to pray for our leaders, that such a calamity does not befall us.
He will destroy all the nation’s leaders – the heroes, soldiers, judges, prophets, diviners, elders, army officers, honorable citizens, advisers, skilled magicians, and expert enchanters.
Then he will appoint children to rule over them, and anarchy will prevail.
Isaiah 3:2-4 (NLT)
Usually, leaders recognize each other even when they are in other spheres of activity. For instance, my leadership abilities were once recognized by an atheist who did not believe in Christ or in the church.
Yet this man was able to pick me out as a leader who should be listened to. He did not recognize my religious or spiritual doctrines but he recognized my leadership skills and asked me to share these skills with other atheists.
If you are a religious leader, you will recognize fellow leaders even if they are businessmen, politicians, atheists or other religious leaders.
On the other hand, if you are not a leader you are not likely to recognize a leader when you see one. You may not recognize and appreciate leaders in other fields because you are not a leader yourself. Saying things to please everyone and win their favour is different from leading people into prosperity and development.
Do you wonder why nobody stays in your company or church for very long? Perhaps there is not much hope for the future! Perhaps they cannot see good things in store for them in the future!
Tips for Leaders
- A good leader makes promises and keeps them.
When people do not trust you, they will not follow you. It is very difficult to make people trust you. Every time you break a promise, you erode people’s trust in you. The whole of Jesus’ ministry was centred on a promise for the future.
…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:2,3
The disciples of Jesus believed that there were good things in store for them in the future. They knew that Jesus would keep his promise, so they had hope. This is still our hope today!
- A leader speaks more about rewards than punishment.
The disciples had hope in the glory and the rewards of Heaven. This was a great source of motivation to them. You must understand that Jesus’ disciples were so highly motivated that they had left their secular jobs for the ministry. They even died for their beliefs.
- A leader shows positive examples that inspire hope in others.
You must accept the fact that people need to be motivated. That is why Jesus often spoke of Heaven and the rewards that await his faithful servants. If you want to inspire pastors, show them examples of ministers who have made it in ministry. That is the sort of example that will give hope.
A good leader builds permanent structures.
It is natural to gravitate towards something that is more permanent. Every pastor who puts up a building inspires hope in his congregation. So, build something if you are a leader!
The Word of God is full of hope. Anyone who preaches the Word of God will not minister discouragement, disappointment and disillusionment. The hope you minister from the Word of God is enough to make people follow you.
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills