Reflection Paper:
Leadership
_____________________________________
A Reflection
Presented to
The Lecturer in-Charge
Rev. Bauta D. Motty Ph.D.
ECWA Theological Seminary Jos (JETS)
_____________________________________
In
Partial
Fulfillment of
The course requirement
Course: PASS 6711 Christian Leadership
_____________________________________
By
BALI Simeon Bitrus
62050
Different Leadership Style
The course starts with the question, “as a leader how can one manage people”?
One of the vital leadership roles is leading yourself (oneself), because if one cannot
manage himself he cannot manage or lead others.
Like Moses in the Bible, his emotional intelligence was weak; if we cannot manage our
emotional intelligence it becomes disastrous, because Emotional intelligence plays an important
role in our leadership role. So, it is expected that every leader must be balanced emotionally to
be effective.
The question again is “why did God allowed water to come out of the rock when Moses
disobeyed God’s instruction to speak to the rock instead he struck the rock”?
The reason is because, God is more mindful of the followers. Leaders can still do wrong
yet God will still achieve His purpose because he is more mindful of the followers.
There might be leaders without leadership position. Such leader lacks effectiveness in
his/her role. So for a leader to succeed or be effective he must relate well with God (intimate
with God). Leaders should never lose intimacy with God.
There is always so much to do in leadership, but we should never as leaders let the
busyness of our leadership interfere with our personal communion with the Lord.
We have different kinds of Church Polity
Church polity (church government) refers to how a church's leadership is structured.
They are Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Congregational. Like the Episcopal the form of church
government functions with a single leader, often called a bishop. One priest or bishop answers to
another, who answers to another, until at the top one pastor who has ultimate authority in all
decisions of the church
Presbyterian (elder) in this form of government, authority rests not with a single
individual but with the body of elders- presiding and teaching elders. This is made up of select
elders to represent each church.
The third type of church polity is the congregational form. In congregational churches,
the final authority rests with the congregation. The congregation is involved in virtually every
decision that has to be made the congregation choose the office holder (pastor), For instance,
Baptist churches, Pastors that the congregation does not accepts finds it difficult to lead
effectively because of how he is being treated in the church.
In this case, our emotional intelligence matters, no matter the church polity a leader finds
himself, it is his intimate relationship with God that determines how ha can withstand the
pressure he finds himself. “Courage is more than one million guns”
Benefits of self leadership
1.
Great Thoughts- Daniel 9:4
2.
Great Energy – Daniel 11:32
3.
Great Boldness- Acts 5:29, 20:24
4.
Great Contentment- Philippians 4:11-13
Self Leadership
Looking at the benefits of self leadership as discussed in week one, Emotional
Intelligence (EI) is something that all leaders need to succeed in their leadership roles. It was low
or weak emotional intelligences that deprived Moses from entering the promise land.
Emotional intelligence should be strength of a conflict manager, because it is not what
people say to you that matters but your response to their words.
The question is what is Emotional intelligence? It is an ability, a skill that one can use to
monitor, identify, access and control his/her emotions.
Emotional Intelligence is divided into the four clusters or components viz:
i.
Self Awareness – who am i? Am I aware of who am i? Can I identify my bad
emotions? What is my weakness? What is my strength? If someone identifies that his
weakness is anger he can take control of it so that it will not have negative impact in
his work performance and relationships.
ii.
Self Management – the question is how do we react to issues as leaders? If we know
who we are, we can manage our selves and keep our emotions under control.
iii.
Social Awareness – it is the ability to sense, understand and react to others and still
maintain the social network by understanding others and taking an active interest in
their concerns.
Self accusation is one of the evidence of someone who does not have knowledge of
his social network because of how he or she was brought up.
iv.
Relational management – The question is how do you relate with people that might
make you unmanageable? Relational management is the ability to inspire, influence
and develop others as you manage whatever conflict that may arise within the circle.
Anatomy of Leadership
It is the research done on leadership. And any organization that must exist must be in
need of leadership. Nothing happens without leadership. The situation in a country is determined
by the leadership. When we have leadership recession, it will result to economic recession.
As a pastor, it is expected that we should never ask what to gain from the church instead
we should be asking what can the church gain from us?
When we are diligent in our leadership role, people will remember us for what we never
did for them (positive).
Looking at Jeremiah 5:1, 31, Ezekiel 22:30-31 shows that the result of no leadership is
captivity.
Six leadership functions
i.
Leaders make or break an organization
ii.
Leaders advance or destroy the course of organization
iii.
Leaders inspire or frustrate the mission of organization- if someone had never
experience being inspired in life, he cannot inspire others.
iv.
Leaders kill or fuel (boost) a vision of the organization
v.
Leaders motivate/mobilize or stagnate/demoralize the organization. The only person
that can motivate others is someone who is motivated.
vi.
Leaders lead the way or lose the way.
Anatomy of Leadership
Directly or indirectly, every one is under a leadership. Leaders are those who perceive
what is needed and what is right and they know how to mobilize people and resources to achieve
mutual roles.
As a leader, how do you mobilize people to accept and understand your vision? Robert
Clifton an expert in leadership says that a Christian leader is a person with a God-given capacity
and a God-given responsibility to influence a specific group of God's people toward His
purposes for the group.
Below is the concept between leadership and management. The two are different from
each other but needed in any organization.
Biblical Theology of Leadership
Looking back at creation, all New Testament writers will always refer to the Old
Testament Genesis 1 and 2. Looking at the Bible, the peaceful chapters are Genesis 1 and 2, after
that from Genesis 3 to Revelation are all crisis.
It was in Chapter 2 of the book of Genesis that the first woman was called woman but she
was called eve in chapter 3. God is the creator of all things. The creative purpose of man was that
God was looking for image bearer. He created all things before He created man in order to
provide food and habitation for man.
Man as the image bearer of God as stated in Genesis 1:26-28 does not mean that God has
a nose, eye, hand, teeth etc, because God has no physical body. Then what is an image? The
image is the abilities or God ability qualities that can be traced in man. The qualities of God in
man can be seen in domino, intellect, will etc.
After the fall, sin did not completely destroy the image of God in man. Before the fall,
that is after creation God gave man a place to stay and to take care off. This is where man began
to play his leadership role as seen in the following.
i.
God placed man in the garden
ii.
God gave man work to do
iii.
God commanded him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and
evil
When God created all things He said it was “good” but after He had created man He said
it is “very good”
God gave Adam a job to do before He gave him a woman (a generic name)
Man’s Responsibilities
1.
God made man a central character in His creation (everything evolves
around man). He brought the animals to man to name them.
2.
God created Adam before Eve, this signifies a sense of responsibility to
Adam’s leadership..
3.
The woman was formed out of man, which shows the woman has the
qualities of the man.
4.
The woman was formed for the man
5.
The man exercises his leadership role by naming the woman.
6.
God did not give instruction to the woman but to the man.
In Genesis 1:28 God gave these commands;
i.
Be fruitful
ii.
Increase
iii.
Fill the earth
iv.
Subdue
v.
Rule
The above, i – iii is the multiplication role, while iv – v is the dominion role. Muslims
grabbed this concept and practice it effectively. When they give birth in great number they see it
as the number of vote they have.
The fall
Man fell spiritually but did not die physically immediately after the fall. God got an
image bearer in man; the woman got that image through man. Man becomes in charge and the
woman became a subordinate.
Leadership Relationship
Christianity is all about relationship. The Father, The son and the Holy Spirit is an act of
relationship, even the cross is a symbol of relationship. If one has a problem of relationship, he is
then not a leader. Leaderships are the key to effective leadership and no ministry can ever
advance within that system without leadership.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 revealed to us that if you are a leader and you do not want to share
your heart with others you are a liar.
Relationship is a connection between two or more people which leads to the knowledge
of one another and sharing lives.
Significance of Relationship in Leadership
1.
Relationship is required for effective leadership. Leaders must be able to
get along with people.
2.
Relationships are the basis for unity
3.
Relationships create like mindedness. If no relationship how will people
like what you want or hate what you hate?
4.
Relationship promotes team work and collaboration. If you want to work
in a team you must relate well.
5.
Relationship brings authentic trust and submission to leaders.
Basic Principles for Developing Interpersonal Relationship
1.
Roman 12:3 shows that one should not think of himself too highly. The
way one views himself determines the way he relate with others.
2.
Be motivated by love. We have four types of love and they are; storge,
eros, philo and agape.
i.
Storge is a love between a mother and child.
ii.
Eros is a false desire, love and conviction. This is a love to get something
from you and when he gets what he wants he abandon you. This is the love one use to
deceive women.
iii.
Philo is a humanitarian love
iv.
Agape love is love that has no reason to withdraw no matter the toughness.
It is sacrificial and need nothing in return.
So the question is what love motivates you when you are in a relationship with your
fellow human being.
3.
Listen to people. Listen well by giving full attention to people.
4.
Allocate time for people. We don’t even have time for our family
especially our wives.
5.
Avoid manipulation
Key areas to focus in order to develop relationship
1.
God – intimacy with God (Prov. 16:20)
2.
Family – how do you relate with your family? Ones wife is his number 2
after God. The success of our ministry lies in our family.
3.
Other people in the Society and Church – How do you relate with people?
People are not suppose to endure you but to enjoy you.
4.
Superior
5.
Colleague – The worst friend has always been the best friend vice versa.
The best mentoring is not up - down or down – up but peer mentoring. This is a kind of
mentoring that is done from the heart.
Difficult People
The question is why are people difficult? Below are some of the reasons people are
difficult.
1.
Difficult people, is as a result of perceptive. One may not really be
difficult; it is a matter of perspective. What a person is doing what he is doing is a matter
of perspective. So understanding an individual is very vital.
2.
Difficult people, is as a result of personality. Someone may not believe in
your personality.
3.
Difficult people, is as a result of process. It takes so many processes to
understand someone that is difficult
4.
Difficult people, is as a result of problems. In your relationship there
might be a time of conflict. So how do we manage this conflict when they arise? Seeking
for solution should always be in our mind.
How do we improve our relationship with people? If we cannot live together, we
cannot lead people. Most of our leaders are needy leaders and not needed leaders.
Teamwork (Group Leadership: Unity in action)
If our relationship with others is genuine or if it is not; it unveils our strength and
weakness. Below is why teamwork is necessary in ministry.
1.
The ministry vision is determined by the group.
2.
Decisions are made by the group and not by individual. No one can make
decisions for the group except when it becomes necessary. Organizations arise or
collapse based on decision.
3.
Problems are on and solved by the group where everyone sees a problem
as a group problem.
4.
Everyone is mutually accountable to one another.
5.
Each one uses his or her own strength to the success of the organization
(everybody is useful).that is an adage that says “The need of the rich man is in the farm
of the poor man” That means that one might be poor yet needful.
6.
Someone in the group must be recognized as a leader. No group without a
7.
The group accomplishes more than one person can accomplish.
leader.
In conclusion, to become a leader, one should take note of the opportunities around him and
reach out to others. When one purposefully work toward building relationships he will become
an effective leader (both for himself and for others)
Leadership
Management/Administration
Notes
Romans 12:8
1 Cor. 12:28
Both talks about
They do right things
They do things right
Spiritual gifts but Paul
They have visionary planning
They have efficient operation
uses Administration in
They initiate and innovate
Manager maintain procedures and rules
Corinthians instead of
They develop or empower people or staff
They organize and control people
Leadership as addressed
They create shared culture and values of
They are there to achieve the task
in Romans because
an organization
Corinthians was under
They ask questions. What? And why?
They ask the question. When? And how?
the Romans in authority.
They have long term perspective
They have short term perspective
They focus on people
They focus on system and the roles.
No matter your level in
They challenge the status quo
They accept the status quo
life as a leader once a
They rethink the system
They re-organize the system
person is above you, you
They create problems
They solve problems
seize to be a leader but a
They are concern about unity of the
They are concern about the uniformity of
manager
organization
the organization
They see opportunities
They see problems, treats and dangers
They manage by working around
Manage by objectives
Concern about the potentials that they
They are interested in the performance of
find in people
the people
Modest of leadership
1.
Autocracy – A kind of leadership that talks about control, dictatorship.
They don’t entertain suggestions from others, they claim they know all.
2.
Group leadership – Comes from the concept of teamwork. It emphasize on
working together.
3.
Empowering leadership – It is an attempt to give meaning to work and
give autonomy to the workers because they have been empowered.
4.
Pastoral leadership – It is the priestly ability to guide a congregation in
God’s way and purpose. It is characterized by three elements. (a) Authoritative (b)
Spiritual (c) Sacrificial
5.
Cross cultural leadership – It is a leadership that displaces itself among
different cultural background.
6.
Monarchy – This is that leadership that is enthrone on the contest of the
people and is for life or till death.
7.
Insecured leadership – Guides people without certainty, they have brutal
feelings towards people, and they control people, system because they are afraid. They
see every body within as enemy.
8.
Situation leadership – It is a theory that seeks to allow you on how to lead
within different situation. Principles are applied based on where you are situated.
9.
Transaction leadership – Tries to give an individual the power to
completely perform and then he is rewarded.
10.
Principle centered leadership – cannot be tossed by sycophants.
11.
Gerontocracy
Strategic planning and implementation
We use strategic planning for the following purposes;
1.
Set priorities – it answer the question what do I do first? What do I do
second? Etc.
2.
To focus energy and resources – The question is where do we focus on next
year? And by implication that is where our resources will be focused.
3.
Strengthen our operation – Look for those areas that are weak and strong
and balance the equation.
4.
To ensure that employees and stakeholders are working towards a common
goals
5.
To establish agreement around intended outcomes or results.
6.
To access and to adjust our direction in response to changing environment
Strategic planning in an organization
Strategic planning is a process of defining its strategy, its direction and making decisions
accordingly.
What is strategic plan? It is a document used to communicate the organizational goals,
actions needed to achieve those set up goals.
Key components of strategic planning
1.
Vision – everywhere you go anywhere you find yourself, without a vision you
cannot land well. Vision is a mental picture of the preferred future. God gives a
vision because there is a need in the society.
a. You see the problem / hear the problem – The human senses are important
as you birth the vision. ECWA today is as a result of a woman’s vision who never
came to Africa (Mrs. Gowans)
b. You feel the vision
c. Get bonded to the vision
d. Becomes a burden
e. Believe that you can do something about it. Don’t connect vision with money
at the beginning of the stage.
f. Share the vision – It is wise to share you vision where is can be understood
and accepted. People need to see the need to be part of the vision. Do not impose
it on people.
2.
Mission – Mission is the step-down of vision
3.
Values – In your vision and mission, you find your values. They are beliefs
and the organization (core values)
JETS values
i.
Scripture
ii. Christ-likeness
iii. Community
iv. Scholarship
v. Team work
vi. Wholistic mission
vii. Stewardship
Who does strategic planning?
As a pastor, you need to get the congregation involved in doing this.
Implementation
When policies are made, implementation must be done, or they must be implemented.
Why policies are delayed in implementation?
1.
Because of procrastination (unnecessary delay)
2.
Brain washing
3.
Analysis paralysis – when you are too analytical it can paralyze you.
4.
Forgetfulness due to undocumented decisions
5.
Personal interest – Overriding the interest of the organization. When your
interest overrides that of the organization there is nothing you are to do that you
will do.
6.
Lack of clear goal – you don’t say things very clearly to the understanding of
the people.
7.
Poor delegation – This is why most organization collapse.
8.
Delegating people who do not believe in your vision; when this is done, it will
not be well executed.
9.
Weak structure – When a structure is not very clear it will bring instability in
the movement of people.
10.
Lack of mobilization – When something new is coming up people need
mobilization.
11.
Lack of close and regular monitoring – People do what you inspect
and not what you expect.
12.
Lack of money/finance/material – The organization requires money
and material or resources for it to move forward. If one must be giving authority, he
must be given resources and he must be accountable for it.
13.
Absence of reward – If no rewards to make you feel you have done
something.
14.
Engaging competence and willing but unavailable members – In such
cases you will be receiving the story of sorry. Engage competence and available
people for the task.
15.
You assign people to do something because of the way they criticize
you.
Leadership qualities and skills
As leaders within the Christendom we need the following qualities and skills to be
successful leaders.
1. Vision – The difference between a manager and a leader is vision. Leaders are
visioneers. Vision is a mental quality of a leader. It is a mental picture of a clear
picture. A leader that wants to lead his people well must work with vision.
2. Integrity – every leader must be tested; you must go through a test as a leader to
show your level of integrity. Integrity is who you are when no body is there.
Hypocrisy is the opposite of integrity. Integrity is what every leader needs.
3. Teamwork – it is all about unity. If you cannot unite with others you cannot be a
leader. Teamwork is unity at work. Trinity is an example of teamwork and there is
power in teamwork. Looking at the story of the tower of Babel, their mind was one
to accomplish a goal. Jesus Himself never worked alone despite His followers were
failing him, yet he was still patient with them.
4. Dedication – it is called commitment. It is not possible to succeed without
dedication. A leader inspires delegation by his dedication and commitment. If one is
dedicated he will be focus and not be distracted.
5. Magnanimity – giving quality and praise to the one who deserve it. Many people
don’t praise others but themselves. A leader gives credit to people who deserve it.
6. Humility – This is the virtue of Jesus (Phil. 2:1-11). Know that as a leader, whatever
you do does not make you god. Don’t see yourself in a way nobody else except you.
Humility brings exaltation.
7. HOT (Honesty Openness and Transparency) – Be a honest, open and transparent
leader. Honesty pays though it does not cost you anything but gives you everything.
If you are hurt because you are HOT is a way to promotion.
Leadership qualities and skills (continuation from last week’s class)
8. Creativity –What makes man image of God is that he is a creative being. Any leader
that is not creative is a crisis to the church and can never make the way forward.
9. Fairness – This has to do with dealing with people consistently and justly.
10. Assertiveness – The ability to say your mind. Those that are not assertive are
grumblers. It is the ability to clearly state your mind on something that is on going.
11. Humour – Leaders that are humourous are those who dispel tension and burden
from the heart of the people.
12. Example – No leader can succeed and do well without being a character of example.
It should be seen in his diligence to duty.
13. Passion – It means feeling bad for not seeing something good happening. It is the
heart beat of a leader and it is what moves a leader to his vision.
14. Delegation – Assigning ministries or commitment to others so that you don’t die
early. We delegate to develop others. Delegation does not mean that you are
surrendering your job to others but allowing someone or others to do part of your
job.
15. Ownership and Responsibility – Take ownership and Responsibility when things go
wrong, don’t try to defend yourself as a leader.
16. Effective Communication – The ability to communicate takes you to limelight. Great
leaders are great communicators.
17. Bravery and courage – When a great leader refuses to run from challenges he is
brave but when he confronts the challenges makes him courageous. People don’t
follow position they follow courage.
18. Listening – Good pastors who are wonderful counselors are good listeners. Allowing
people to talk out their heart or their problem makes the problem half solved. Do
not allow anything to distract you when listening to someone who is pouring out
his/her heart to you.
19. Know the people – Who are you pasturing? Know the people you are leading or
serving and also love them.
20. Follower – The best leader had once been the best or worst follower.
21. Trustworthiness – Trust is consequential when a leader is trusted people can die for
him.
With these leadership qualities and skills, one can become more effective at any stage of his
ministry, regardless of the size of his organization