It’s a strange phenomenon…I’ve seen people serve in leadership roles who I didn’t think were the most qualified to lead, yet they are leading well and people are following. And, many times, they are achieving great results…
The reason is not their abilities as much as the way they have positioned or presented themselves to a group of followers.
The opposite is equally true. I have seen people who have positions where they are to be the leader but no one seems to be following.
That’s because of one principle of leadership:
Leaders posture themselves as leaders…
- They seem to be in control or they take control…
- They aren’t afraid to take a risk…
- They are willing to go first…
- They have battle-scarred hands from life experience…
- They are still dreaming, when everyone else is settling for mediocrity..
- They have the latest information…
- They appear to have a plan…
- They have impeccable character and integrity…
- They hold a big vision…
You may not have all the answers, you may even be fooling yourself at times, but if you are postured to lead…others will follow…
Consider your leadership posture…would you want to follow you?
What do you look for in a person you will consider following?
Ron, I am an occasional reader of your blog, and have enjoyed what I've read before. That to say, I appreciate what you normally write about and your role as a ministry leader.
I must say, though, this list seem surprisingly hollow. Yes, it is probably a good list of leadership qualities of a book you would find selling to hard-core Type A leaders. However, the list seems far from a biblical look at leadership. When people "posture" for leadership, it wreaks of self-focus. Yes, people can get out in front of the pack, but the best leaders aren't fighting to get there. They are the ones that have either been placed there, or the ones that people naturally want to follow.
I think you have a great opportunity here to tell people what it's like to be a spiritual leader. The world needs more of those. I'd suggest making of list of those type of characteristics.
Am I missing something, Ron? Maybe I have read a little too much into the post.
Kevin, thank you for pushing back against this post. I genuinely enjoy dialogue and feedback…even correction where needed. I don't know that we are completely checking here. Certainly I write a great deal about my faith, walk with God, and even encourage others to have an intimate, complete trust in who God is, giving Him glory. Not every post I write will come with that type of disclaimer before sharing a leadership principle, but perhaps this one should.
In the case of a Christian leader, the first assignment is surrender to God and to His glory…not one of man's. At the same time, people don't follow those who are consistently questioning themselves. They follow people who have a posture of leadership. I believe that's true in the Christian world and the church as well. In my opinion, we need more God-fearing leaders who are courageously positioned, (not for their glory, but for God's) to lead people to accomplish God's will. Would the people have followed David…or Moses…or even Gideon…had they not been postured to lead. I consider the list: * They seem to be in control or they take control…
* They aren’t afraid to take a risk…
* They are willing to go first…
* They have battle-scarred hands from life experience…
* They are still dreaming, when everyone else is settling for mediocrity..
* They have the latest information…
* They appear to have a plan…
* They have impeccable character and integrity…
* They hold a big vision…
And I see those in godly leaders…shepherds of people…that others are willing to follow. Read 1 Samuel 23:1-4 for example. I recently blogged about this passage and the leadership principles I see here. I see David in this passage "postured for leadership".
Obviously the balance comes in whether that person is self-postured or postured because of the call of God on their life, and perhaps I should have explained that better, but again, I write much about the focus of my faith, so many times I jump straight to the principle.
Again, thanks for your comment. I really do appreciate it.
Ok, with that said, I think this blog post is 1,000% better. Well said, Ron. I am teaching this weekend on Leadership to 125 college students that will head up all our ministries this summer.
"Self-postured or postured because of the call of God on their life." Couldn't have said it better. Love it.
Thank you Kevin. What a grace-giving reply!
thanks for sharing Ron.. a leader is a person who has love, humility and faith..others: dispositon, discipline, compromise
Thanks Jorge!
Personally i would like to follow someone with a bigger vision than mine. A person with experience.Someone i can learn from,what to do and not what to do when faced with a challenge or situation.Yeah somebody with battle-scared hands from life experiences. Someone you can watch from afar and just observe how they do things. At times we just need to watch and learn.
That's good…no sense in following otherwise…you wouldn't be going anywhere…Thanks
A few things:
– that they aren't content with the present situation
– that they are passionate about what they "see" and know how to verbalize it
– that they believe that I can help make what they "see" possible
Somewhat a little off topic, but I think that the best book ever written on the subject of why people get to the place where they fail as leaders or fail in a certain job is "The Peter Principle". I'm pretty sure that it's out of print now, but it's an easy read and quite accurate.
The bottom line of the book is that people rise to their own level of incompetency.
Thanks Jon. Heard of it but haven't read it.
Great post Ron. I was made aware of the "posture of leadership" many years ago by a great mentor, who told me that sending out subtle signals about your confidence in your ability to lead, while remaining humble and approachable is what will cause people to follow. In the years since, I continually think about my "posture" and know that the vision is heard and people risk following when they feel you are confident in what you say and do.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks! "sending out signals"…I like that…
I like your point on character and integrity. There are so many leaders who have great vision and energy but become their own worst enemy. A truly great leader stays humble because they know what they are doing is larger than themselves. Great Post!
Thanks Dustin.
Humility. It's the number one quality I respect most in anyone but especially in leaders. Not as some people see it by letting people walk over you or trying to make yourself look good without taking credit which is really just pride but a true understanding of your position in relation to the One who gives you authority. It's a game changer.
Good add Tony. Thank you.
Confidence in their vision.
That's true Michael