Leadership: You Can’t Quite Define It

Leadership is amazing. You can't quite define it or grasp it. There is no set shape or size to leadership. People of all colors, genders, backgrounds, personality types, and education levels can be good leaders. Trying to make a formula for leadership is like a greased pig; the more you try to hold it, the more it slips away. 

Bob Ehrlich says it perfectly. “I don’t know what leadership is. You can’t touch it. You can’t feel it. It’s not tangible. But I do know this. You recognize it when you see it.” Bernard Montgomery defines leadership as the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character that inspires confidence. Theodore Roosevelt said the most important single ingredient in the formula for success is knowing how to get along with people. In other words, if you get along, they’ll go along. 

Leadership can be innate or internal. It's a gift or capacity given by God or by one's natural talent. Some are born with it. Leadership often is more nature than nurture. But good leadership can also be a matter of competency. We can learn about it, study it, and develop it. 

The most effective leaders generally have both the capacity and the competency to lead. They have an ‘it’ factor. However, leaders with natural capacity will be limited without developing their competency. They might be a better natural leader than most with little education, study, and the like, but they will never be at their best without increasing their competence through education, skills, and the like.

A few years ago, I heard Pastor Alan Platt, Leader of Doxa Deo churches worldwide and the best Leader I have ever met, speaking about a competency issue. He called it Four Strategic Questions That Leaders Need To Answer. Learn from his message. It will unleash your leadership capacity by helping you become more competent. Scottie Shefler is a great golfer because he maximized his natural capacity and ability through consistent, committed study, practice, and hard work. 

The first question is “Who is my Master?” In other words, whose voice are we listening to? Many listen to the voice of money and greed? Money calls, and they answer. Others listen to the voice of power, the need for acceptance, or the search for significance. They are living for acceptance rather than from acceptance. Others listen to the voice of rejection, hurt, or offense. Wrong voice. 

Every leader will be a follower of the voice they hear. Competing voices are not completing voices. As a Christian, I try to listen to God through wisdom and God's word. I aim to follow the Leader of all Leaders, Jesus Christ. Who and what is your master? Author John Foster says, "A person without character can never be said to belong to himself. He belongs to whatever can make him captive." In other words, the first person you lead is you.  

The second question is “What is My Mission?” In other words, what have we been assigned to do? What is our sweet spot? What are you born for? Mark Twain once said that the two greatest days of our lives are the day we were born and the day we discovered why. What is your mission or purpose? The best potential is lost if we don’t define the route. Hope is not a strategy. Build your life around purpose, not on fallen emotions that create demotions.  

The third question is “Who are My Men or Women?” In other words, who is my team? Why? Teamwork makes the dream work. We all need somebody, but not just anybody. We need VRPs. VRPs are Very Resourceful People, like Apostle Paul, who will help us become great leaders. VRPs propel us to excellence and greatness. We need VIPs. VIPs are Very Important People, like Barnabas, who are friends in adversity. All leaders need someone to pick them up when they are down. 

We need VTPs. VTPs are Very Teachable People like Timothy, whom we can invest our lives into and carry on after we are carried off. A Timothy realizes mentors are bridges to tomorrow. They are family, not employees. We need VNPs. VNPs are Very Nice People who are our friends. They are people at church or in the community. They are folks who are just fun to be around. They are for you, not against you.  

Finally, the last question is “What is Your Message? Define your message in clear language that everyone can understand. My message is simple. Cities and communities need what the church brings to the table to reduce societal problems. Those in church need to understand that they are here because the city is here. Each one needs the other. When you know your mission and your message, life gets much more focused and fruitful. 

What's our takeaway? Take the wisdom in this article and apply it. As you increase your leadership competency, you unleash your leadership capacity. It’s one thing to have a sword. It’s another thing to know how to use the sword. This article gives you some pointers to improve your leadership. That’s called equipping you for life.

Why not become the person others want to follow?