L eadership M aterial

1.

A re You A Ma nag er Or A L ead er?

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself if you manage or if you lead? Managers are
work oriented, seek comfort and have subordinates. Leaders are people oriented, seek
risk, and have followers.
General types and categories of Managers & Leaders:
Democratic Leaders:
Those who make the final decisions, but they include team members in the decisionmaking process. They encourage creativity, and people are often highly engaged in
projects and decisions. As a result, team members tend to have high job satisfaction and
high productivity. This is not always an effective style to use, though, when you need to
make a quick decision.
Autocratic Leaders: Those who make decisions without consulting their team
members, even if their input would be useful. This can be appropriate when you need to
make decisions quickly, when theres no need for team input, and when team agreement
isnt necessary for a successful outcome. However, this style can be demoralizing, and it
can lead to high levels of absenteeism and staff turnover.

Transactional Leaders: Managers using the transactional leadership style receive

certain tasks to perform and provide rewards or punishments to team members based on
performance results. Managers and team members set predetermined goals together,
and employees agree to follow the direction and leadership of the manager to
accomplish those goals. The manager possesses power to review results and train or
correct employees when team members fail to meet goals. Employees receive rewards,
such as bonuses, when they accomplish goals.
Laissez-faire Leaders: Leaders who give their team members a lot of freedom in how
they do their work, and how they set their deadlines. They provide support with
resources and advice if needed, but otherwise they dont get involved. This autonomy
can lead to high job satisfaction, but it can be damaging if team members dont manage
their time well, or if they dont have the knowledge, skills, or self motivation to do their
work effectively. (Laissez-faire leadership can also occur when managers dont have
control over their work and their people).
Participative Leaders: Often called the democratic leadership style, participative
leadership values the input of team members and peers, but the responsibility of making
the final decision rests with the participative leader. Participative leadership boosts
employee morale because employees make contributions to the decision-making
process. It causes them to feel as if their opinions matter. When a company needs to
make changes within the organization, the participative leadership style helps
employees accept changes easily because they play a role in the process. This style
meets challenges when companies need to make a decision in a short period.
Transformative Leaders: The transformational leadership style depends on high levels
of communication from management to meet goals. Leaders motivate employees and
enhance productivity and efficiency through communication and high visibility. This style
of leadership requires the involvement of management to meet goals. Leaders focus on
the big picture within an organization and delegate smaller tasks to the team to
accomplish goals.

Manage:
to have control of (something, such as a business, department, sports team, etc.)
to take care of and make decisions about (someones time, money, etc.)
to direct the professional career of (someone, such as an entertainer or athlete)
Control:
to direct the behavior of (a person or animal) : to cause (a person or animal) to do
what you want
to have power over (something)
to direct the actions or function of (something) : to cause (something) to act or
function in a certain way
Direct:
to cause (someone or something) to turn, move, or point in a particular way
to cause (someones attention, thoughts, emotions, etc.) to relate to a particular
person, thing, goal, etc.

Lead:

Guide:

2.

to guide on a way especially by going in advance

to direct on a course or in a direction
a person who leads or directs other people on a journey
a person who helps to direct another persons behavior, life, career, etc.

Qualities of Great Leaders

Quick! Think of a leader. Who comes to mind? A boss at work, a president, a coach you had in
high school, a parent or sibling; leadership emerges in all areas of our lives.
The leadership you experience throughout your life often shapes you. The leadership qualities
we admire in others are the same qualities we try to portray and build on in our own lives. No
one is born a leader; it takes work. And good leaders are always working to improve themselves.
But what qualities make someone a great leader? We thought about some of the great leaders
we know, and here are some qualities that they all have in common:
Great Leaders Show Passion
To love what you do and feel that it mattershow could anything be more fun? Katherine
Graham
Passion is a very important part of leadership, and passion isnt something we can fake. When
you love what you do, it shows through your actions, which helps inspire those around you. Plus
its always more rewarding (and more fun!) to do something that matters to you. If youre
having fun and feel like youre making a difference, other people in your life will be inspired to
follow in your footsteps. Great leaders know thiswhether its volunteering once a week at a
soup kitchen or leading a country through the Great Depression, passion always inspires others
to act.
Great Leaders Stay Focused on Priorities
Great leaders help others stay focused on their goals in part by staying focused themselves. In
all areas of life, its easy to get overwhelmed and stressed out by all the little things and lose
sight of the big picture. Great leaders know how to keep everyone focused by keeping priorities
top of mind and adjusting as new things pop up. If we always focused on every small issue, we

wouldnt have enough time to spend on the important things. Great leaders know when to let
the little things go to focus on the bigger issues.
Great Leaders Stay Optimistic and Always Persevere
Life isnt perfect. Theres always going to be something that gets in the way or throws you off
course. But great leaders know how to stay positive and keep everyone on track, even when
problems arise. Great leaders dont give up, and they dont let others give up either.

Great Leaders Build Trust and Trust Others

Trust is one of the most important qualities in life and leadership. Without trust, leaders cant
inspire others to follow them or to learn from them. Trust doesnt happen overnight, and great
leaders know how to prove their trustworthiness.
Another important part of trust is being able to trust others. Great leaders surround themselves
with people they can count on. We cant do everything ourselves, so we need to trust others to
take care of things. At work, that might be, trusting a coworker to meet their deadlines on a
project. At home, it might be trusting your family to have your back when you try something
new.
Building trust and learning to trust others shows that youre on the same team and are all
working for the same goal. Without trust, there are no followers, and without followers, there are
no leaders.
A lot of different things make up great leaders, and these are just some qualities that weve
noticed in leaders we know. Think about the great leaders you know. Do they have these traits?
What other leadership qualities do they have? Share your ideas on what makes a great leader in
the comments!

3. 10 Irrefutable Qualities of Leadership Character

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Integrity
Set example
Vision
Preparation
Goal setting
Empowering others
Sacrifice
Accountability
Communication
Honesty

The challenge of leadership is

Learn
Learn
Learn
Learn
Learn
Learn
Learn

to
to
to
to
to
to
to

be strong but not rude

be kind but not weak
be bold but not a bully
be humble but not a timid
be thoughtful but not lazy
be proud but not arrogant
have humor without folly

4. Leadership Qualities and Style

What is leadership? Leadership is an influence process: The ability to motivate others
to do something, believe something or act a certain way. Leadership style is the pattern
of behaviors you use when you are trying to influence the behavior of others. A leader
first should possess essential qualities than a leader should add the style to manage.
Leaders usually posses one dominant styles but they should be able to decide and
apply different styles with the different cases depends on the level of of the team, team
members, organizational needs, market structure, local culture etc. Leadership styles
can be developed or learned through appropriate trainings, learnings through
experiences etc. Good leaders are the ones who can apply the right styles or being able
to switch between the styles with changing circumstances.

Must Have Qualities of a Leader:

1)

Vision

- is

necessary

quality

almost

all

management gurus agrees for a good leader. Vision is

being able to articulate the future in clear simple
language with an emphasis on what will be rather than
what is. "I have a dream" by Martin Luther King, is my
favorite. A leader should be able to paint a simple and
clear picture what success will look like and how their
organization will get there.
While a vision articulates a companys purpose, values
offer a set of guidelines on the behaviors and mindsets
needed to achieve that vision. Leaders are the starting
point of an organizational culture with their Vision and
Values.

2) (EI) Emotional Intelligence (for Empathy and

Intuition); "EI" broad definition is a "gut instinct or an
innate sense about what others are feeling.". "EI"
includes identifying, using, understanding and managing
emotions. "EI" helps to learn and develop "empathy" and
" intuition".
Empathy helps

on

understanding "What

Motivates

People" . You can have the best product or service and

can spend millions of dollars on things like marketing,
logistics etc.. but businesses are built on the quality and
motivation of the people within. A Leader needs to be
able to understand what makes their people tick and
what motivates them. This also helps to build staff loyalty
which is a crucial element of running a business. The
best leaders are usually the ones who have a good grasp
of human nature and behavior.

I like the term intuition probably because speaking from

personal experience, it is when times get tough that the
best leaders are able to show their true qualities and
mettle. Knowing what course of action to take in any
given situation is a great skill to be able to draw on. It is
easy to lead when things are going well and a business is
running smoothly. The true test of leadership is when an
unexpected crisis rears its head.
The ability to react in the right way to changing
circumstances is something that usually comes with
many

years

of

experience.

English Proverb 'A Smooth Sea never made a Skillful

Sailor.' Is one of my favorite . The best Leaders with great
intuition are the ones who sailed in stormy waters with
courage and luck.

3) Trustworthiness starts with having confidence in

you and your ability. Your behaviors should be consistent
with your beliefs and words. If you are confidence in
yourself and consistent on your words and actions, you
can

expect

others

to

place

their

trust

in

you.

As a Leader You should never forget that all the people

you

manage

are

constantly

looking

to

for inspiration andguidance and setting

you
an

example in the job or even in their life.

If you are confident and trustworthy, even those who
disagree with you, will respect you enormously. No one
will

follow

dishonest

or

unfair

leader

with

enthusiasm. Actions do speak much louder than words!

5.

Christian Leadership
Christian leadership is not about dominating others but it is about leading a good life.
Christian Leadership is about making the most of our talents and gifts and putting them
at the service of others.

MODEL of a leader:
The MODEL of a leader has to do with how a leader perceives himself / herself. It
speaks to the core identity of a leader. In addition, the MODEL of a leader represents a
core set of ideas that nourish a leaders attitudes, behaviors, motivations and even
leadership style.

I.

The MODELS of a Servant and Shepherd

The Bible provides many models for leadership, but two particularly emphasized
throughout: the servant and the shepherd. Both of these MODELS have a rich tradition
within the Bible. This means that these MODELS cannot easily be co-opted by the
latest leadership fads. Instead, they represent enduring and profound portraits of
leadership which go right to the essence of what it means to be a Christian leader.
When we speak about a core identity or to a self-perception, the MODELS of the
servant and the shepherd immediately conjure up a set of ideals that should govern
how someone leads.
By comparison, there are many business models, military models and even Old
Testament models such as king or priest, which project leadership ideas that are very
different to that of the servant or the shepherd. This is why we say that good
leadership begins with having the right MODEL of leadership, with having the right selfperception.
Conclusion: In the next several lessons, we are going to break down the MODELS of the
servant and the shepherd to see how each one provides a unique window into biblical
leadership. Each one has centuries of use behind it. Each one has been applied to
some of Gods greatest leaders throughout biblical history. Each one provides a set of
values or ideas that a leader must call upon if he is to lead well.

II.

The MODEL of the servant.

In this lesson, we will begin to unpack the MODEL of the servant.
Terms Used for The Model of a Servant
One of the Bibles most enduring MODELS for leaders is that of a servant. This title is
applied without discrimination to every major biblical figure, and for good reason. It
speaks to a core set of ideas or to a self-identity that governs how someone should
lead.
The Hebrew terms in the Old Testament that speak to the MODEL of a servant are:
ebed which means servant or slave
abad which means to work or to serve
abodah which means labor, work or service
The Greek terms in the New Testament that speak to the MODEL of a servant are:
doulos which means servant or slave in a literal or figurative sense
douleo which means to serve or to be a slave
diakonos which means servant, waiter or one who waits on others
diakoneo which means to serve or to minister
Profile of a Servant

By analyzing these terms in the Old and New Testaments, respectively, in literally
hundreds of verses, we can create a profile of the servant which can serve as our
MODEL for leadership. In summary, these terms describe:
1) A servant, slave or subject, serving a master, king or general performing the typical
duties of a subservient person: cultivating the land, performing domestic work, serving
meals, etc.
2) The term is applied without discrimination to patriarchs, prophets, priests, generals,
kings, apostles and New Testament church leaders, in other words, every biblical
leader.
3) These terms are used in a religious context to speak of leaders who minister in the
things of God (temple, tabernacle, sacrifices, celebration of feasts)
4) There are two connotations in these terms related to service: One is to serve God in
whatever task he requires. The other is to serve people in whatever they need. In
every case the MODEL of a SERVANT speaks to a service that one person is giving to
another.
5) The perfect example of service is Jesus Christ, as someone who came to serve and
not be served and to give his life as a ransom for many.
6) These terms imply an attitude, perspective and leadership style that is based on
obedience to God, humility, self-sacrifice and radical service to God and to other
people. The MODEL of a servant is wholly contrary to a hierarchical, authoritarian, and
prideful style of leadership.
Conclusion: The MODEL of a servant may not appear to be a very appealing way of
leading. But there can be no doubt that it it has a strong biblical tradition behind it. It
is precisely because the job of leading is so fraught with the desire to rule over others
that I believe the MODEL of a servant is so perfect. It is also why it is one of the first
lessons we teach here at the Christian Leadership Training and Academy.
Seeing yourself as a servant keeps you humble as a leader. It allows you to place the
needs of others over your own. It reminds you that your primary tasks are always to
serve God and to serve others. Finally, it reminds you to be more and more like Jesus
who is the SERVANT par excellence.
III.

The MODEL of a SHEPHERD

The image of a shepherd caring, guiding, feeding, sheltering, and protecting his flock is
as old as civilization itself. It is precisely because the image portrays a courageous and
tireless servant sacrificing himself on behalf of his vulnerable flock that sheperding
terminology came to be applied equally to God and to human leaders caring for Gods
people.
The ultimate Old Testament shepherding portrait is beautifully captured in Psalm 23
where the Lord leads the psalmist by still waters, in paths of righteousness, restores his
10

soul, prepares a table before his enemies and walks with him through the valley of the
shadow of death.
In Ezekiel 34, we meet another portrait of false shepherds who fleece and abuse the
sheep, who do not seek the lost or scattered and who do not nurse the bruised or sick
back to health. Of course, in the Gospel of John we are giving the shepherd par
excellence, Jesus the Good shepherd whose sheep hear his voice and who ultimately
lays down his life for his sheep.
Shepherd in the New Testament
These mini-portraits represent literally hundreds of texts and ideas in the Bible that
capture the MODEL of the SHEPHERD in vivid detail. Two in particular appear in the
New Testament to speak of Christian leaders: Acts 20:17-38 and 1 Peter 5:1-11. Taken
together we can summarize the core set of ideas and values represented by the MODEL
of the SHEPHERD:
You must be humble in your ministry and leadership (Acts 20:19; 1 Pet 5:6-7) This is
the opposite of being prideful.
You must serve as an example for others (Acts 20:18-27; 1 Pet 5:3) Leadership is not
about exercising your authority but in being an example to others. If you want people
who are kind, loving, generous, forgiving, holy, mature, honest, vulnerable, etc., then
you must lead the way.
You must watch carefully for the people committed to your care especially from attacks
within and without the church (Acts 20:28, 31; 1 Pet 5:2). If you would rather not worry
about people then dont occupy a leadership position over them.
The flock belongs to the Lord who purchased it with his blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:2)
The church does not belong to you. It belongs to Jesus. You are simply a caretaker who
has the privilege to watch over it. The people do not belong to you and you cannot do
with them whatever it is you please to fulfill your ministerial goals.
Be careful with money and greed (Acts 20:33-34, 1 Peter 5) This warning appears
throughout the New Testament and represents a great threat to leaders (see lessons
ahead).
Shepherding implies that people ARE prone to wander. Be patient. Do not become
angry or abusive. A good shepherd leaves 99 sheep behind in the fold to find the one
that is lost, trapped or has veered off course.
The success of a ministry is based on the health of the flock and should be expressed in
decisions that benefit people People come before programs or campaigns.
There is a tension in shepherding which is characterized by compassionate authority
(earned not taken). Authority without compassion is authoritarianism. Compasion
without authority is licentiousness. Neither is good.

11

Conclusion: The MODEL of a SHEPHERD implies one of vigilance, care, compassion,

guidance and feeding of those committed to your care. This care must be expressed
with the knowledge that the flock, group or church belongs to God and not to you. The
MODEL of a SHEPHERD does not begin from a position of control, authority or hierarchy
but rather from a position of sacrifice, courage and humility. The world needs more
leaders like this.

6.

Seven Dimensions of Christian Leadership

The Christian Leadership Pyramid

Biblical Truth
Biblical truth must guide every aspect of our leadership. It is imperative that we increasingly live
and lead in keeping with a thoroughly biblical worldview. This comes as we grow in our ability to
meditate on Gods Word continuously,[1] to handle it accurately,[2] and to be a courageous
practitioner of the Word.[3]
A Growing Relationship with God
The desired foundation of Christian leadership is a growing relationship with God. The Christian
leader must continue to live in Christ, rooted and built up in him.[4] As we abide in Christ, he

12

will bear fruit through us.[5] I find that the practice of spiritual disciplines, when done in a
meaningful way, rallies me to God and His plans for my life. One of the most useful tools I have
found for establishing and growing these disciplines is the Rule of Life. A Rule of Life is an
intentional plan to deepen ones relationship with God and to position oneself to love and serve
others more effectively. Similar to what Peter Scazzero says in Emotionally Healthy Spirituality,
[6] I am learning that ones Rule of Life should encompass all of life. This would include
practicing traditional spiritual disciplines such as prayer and listening to God through His Word,
but also cultivating healthy relationships, fostering emotional health, and taking care of my
body (among others).
Character
Character is the second layer of the leadership pyramid. As we increasingly submit ourselves to
Christs Lordship and experience an ongoing filling of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to imitate
God and follow Jesus example of love.[7] Scripture describes many admirable character
qualities such as the fruit of the Spirit,[8] being wise,[9] holy,[10] just,[11] humble,[12] and
courageous.[13]Growth in these kinds of qualities greatly enhances our ability to reflect Christ
and lead in God-honouring ways. I believe we will acquire these traits in increasing measure as
we surrender ourselves to God, deal with sin in our lives, associate with godly people, leverage
Scripture to bring about necessary change, allow trials to shape our character, and expose
ourselves to opportunities that foster growth in desired areas.
Calling
Understanding and living out ones God-given calling is another key ingredient for effective
Christian leadership. Scripture says that we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works
which God prepared beforehand.[14] This suggests that God has a unique plan for each of our
lives. What is this plan or calling? I use a process with my students at ACTS Seminaries that
helps them understand their God-given calling, which includes life purpose, core values, and
vision.[15]The process invites participants to prayerfully explore Scripture, their defining
moments (which often contain God-ordained themes that point people in certain directions),
their interests, desirable character traits, areas where they and others have seen Gods blessing
on their endeavours, and their areas of gifting and strength. As people discover or re-envision
Gods call on their lives, they are in a good position to determine where and how they should
serve. In addition, they are often filled with purpose, passion and a willingness to make
sacrifices to live out that calling. This kind of understanding and passion is essential for effective
Christian leadership.
Community
Building strong community is critical for leading effective groups and organizations. We must
grow in our ability to love one another deeply from pure hearts.[16] It is in the context of
healthy relationships that people can build trust with each other (of course, there are other
elements to building trust such as the perceived competence and credibility of others, but
relational chemistry is certainly an important piece). A loving Christian community is also a
powerful witness to the world. Jesus said that our love for each other will broadcast the fact that
we are Christians.[17] Leaders can foster relational development by setting a strong example of
loving others and by providing opportunities for people to build relational bridges with each
other.
Team
The leadership development literature gives considerable attention to team-building. Jesus
taught the masses and ministered to individuals, but his primary training was with his team of

13

disciples. He poured his life into them. Effective Christian leaders know that a team can often
accomplish more than what team members could achieve individually. Even though people who
do not particularly like each other can learn to work together, fostering relational closeness
within a team is the best strategy for going beyond team-building a loving and caring
community. As a part of the team-building process, it is often helpful to learn about each others
strengths and weaknesses (e.g. through a Myers Briggs assessment or by doing the
StrengthsFinder inventory), and to practice functioning as a team (e.g. doing activities and
challenges that encourage team members to leverage their strengths on behalf of the team).
Knowledge and Skills
Effective leaders are lifelong learners. We need to continually hone our skills related to
important leadership practices like managing conflict, making wise decisions, developing
leaders, building and communicating vision, and fostering a learning orientation within our
organizations. In addition, the rapid pace of societal change means that leaders must acquire
new competencies to increase their effectiveness. Knowledge and skills represent another
important dimension of Christian leadership.
Conclusion
Using a pyramid to represent the dimensions of Christian leadership has its shortcomings;
however, one of the strengths of the pyramid analogy is that it clearly portrays the importance
of the foundational layers. We can have extensive knowledge and exceptional leadership skills.
We may be able to build strong teams and foster meaningful communities. Yet, without a
growing relationship with God, will we be able to reflect Him in a vibrant and sustainable way?
Will we truly hear Gods call and have what it takes to live it out on a daily basis? I believe that
Christian leaders who desire to serve in God-honouring and effective ways strengthen each of
the seven dimensions of leadership in themselves and others while prioritizing the foundational
elements. Why? So that we might be more effective in loving God, loving others and making
growing disciples of Jesus both in Canada and around the world. In my view, that is Christian
leadership at its best.

References
[1] Psalm 1:2
[2] 2 Timothy 2:15
[3] James 1:22
[4] Colossians 2:6-7
[5] John 15
[6] Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Franklin, TN: Integrity Publishers, 2006), 195-210.
[7] Ephesians 5:1-2
[8] Galatians 5:22-23
[9] Proverbs 2:1-5
[10] 1 Peter 1:15-16
[11] Micah 6:8
[12] Philippians 2:5-8
[13] Joshua 1:6-9
[14] Ephesians 2:10
[15] I originally learned this process from Dave Jackson who directs the ReFocusing initiative within the
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
[16] 1 Peter 1:22

14

[17] John 13:35

15