Welcome to Gaia! ::

So, I've been thinking quite a bit about leadership lately. As I sit here typing this, I've just finished filling out a scholarship application form that asks for extensive "leadership" experience. I'm wearing the sweatshirt branded with my bi-vocational leadership program's logo and tag line. I'm within sight line of several biographies of people proffessed to be "great leaders." I've just finished reading a few chapters of Andy Stanley's The Next Generation Leader, a wonderful and simple book about the traits necessary in leaders today.

So many people talk of qualities that make a good leader. I feel even a bit overwhelmed by how much information there is on training good leaders--and I keep thinking about another book I read about a year ago--Spiritual Leadership--and I'm feeling quite inadequate. Of course, I suppose very few leaders feel up to the task when they take it on.....

But I am wondering what this lovely little guild thinks.

-What makes a good leader? are there specific qualites or circumstances?
-Can anyone be a good leader?
-What can a person do to increase their capability as a leader?

Spiritual leadership is signifigantly different from say, business leadership. To be able to lead spiritually, one must posess qualities in addition to those of leaders in any other capacity.

-How can spiritual leaders temper their leadership with humility and obedience?
-Is spiritual leadership a learned skill or a given attribute?

-Who do you know is that is a picture of leader to you? Why is this?
-Do you think of yourself as a leader, or having the capacity to lead? Why?

These are all questions that have just sprung from my mind in the last few minutes...and I am interested to see what everyone had to say, and to discuss it with you all. And of course, feel free to not use my questions in your responses, and just type whatever (on topic) thoughts are floating around in your head.

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So you would say that leadership is an inherent skill. What about developing leaders from those with a level of given skill in leadership? Do you think anyone can put stock in the many leadership books and methods out there?

I think I agree with you--that some people are simply not leaders. An analogy (a good one for me, yay!) would be music. I have a gift for music; I was born with a talent for it. My friend Penny was not. With training and studying I have increased my level of ability in music, but I first had the natural afinity to it....does that make sense? it's two thirty am here, I'm not really sure what makes sense and what doesn't....

I guess it comes down to what it actually takes to be a spiritual leader. Of course, it takes charisma, and many other aspects attributed to leadership in any other arena. But a spiritual leader has to be more than just wise or knowledgable, or even a good teacher. It's more than presentation....my brain just can't quite pick out the words.

Competence, Courage, Clarity, Coaching, and Character. those are the five aspects of leadership I'm studying right now...I think I'm being too broad....

I think I'm a decent leader. I'm appreciative that you mentioned organization, Pirate darling, because it is definitely my strength. IRL, I've just taken over administrative functions relating to music ministry..LOTS of organizing.....I know I have what is necessary to take charge. I think I lack several things. Just reading this book and being able to discuss it--well, I see just how far I can go in developing myself...

leaders I look up to:

Ulysses S. Grant--a great leader because of his Clarity-his ability to give clear orders even in very uncertain circumstances is what got him to commanding all of the Union forces in the civil war.

George Washington--a great leader because of his vision. He knew where the revolution wanted to get, and he surrounded himself with people who could facilitate the how.

Ellenor Roosevelt-- frankly, anyone who can be married to a president AND have time to write the Universal Bill of Human Rights wins. period.

Aimee Semple McPhearson--she went ahead and changed things up---she wasn't afraid of ruining the status quo in favor of an oppertunity to change and stay relevant to her culture. She understood that the things we hate most about our jobs/churches/whatever today were once someone's brilliant idea-but that didn't mean it always applied. ((This woman is my hero. seriously an amazing Christian woman. Founded my denomination...and she was just stinking cool.))

My senior pastor---he's fallable. he knows it, we know it, but he's great at getting a team of little leaders to be and coaching us up for the metaphorical "Big Game"--he's making me a better leader.

uh...yeah. I should stop typing now.

biggrin I don't think I am much of a leader personally. But, all of my friends (and my teachers as well.) have informed me that I take control, and that I am a leader.

The reason I act like a leader is that people need a leader sometimes. My friends get into an argument and I am the one they come to, so I take control of the situation, hoping to stop them from arguing!

And I agree with KILL - A leader has to be an example first.
Also, all of you are right, Competence, Courage, Clarity, Coaching, and Character, are important things for a leader to have.

this is a good topic. Believe it or not, everyone can be a leader. It is just up to them if they will take the chance to stand up and do something about a certain situation or not. It is neither inherited nor studied, nor are ppl born as leaders. Well for most teens or children born into the family of government officials here in our country, it is an "inheritance" because after your father or mother ends his/her term, one way or another you'll be "pushed" or asked to run for public office. One of our youth pastors encouraged everyone including kids to always stand up for what is right and try to be a leader. Being a leader doesn't mean you should always be the boss and ppl should serve you, but just as what Jesus taught and showed us through his examples, that's how we should act too. I also think it all comes down to being humble. I mean it is true what the bible says about humility, when you humble yourself then God will lift you up into a higher position. Responsibility is another factor too. How responsible are you? That'll help determine how good a leader you can be or you have become. It's also written in the bible that if we are responsible with little things, then we can be entrusted with greater things, and vice versa. Most ppl nowadays tend to shy away from grabbing the opportunity of being a leader, they think that they're not good enough, they're not old enough or they're not rich enough (with regards to political aspects) to serve and help others, well there are a lot of different examples of ppl (young and old, men and women) from the bible who stood up and became great leaders in their time. All we gotta do is acknowledge the boss of all bosses and let Him be the guide as to how to handle the tasks of being a leader. I know this is easier said than done but I guess one way or another, we can do it if we trust God and follow the example of the best leader that ever walked this earth, that is Jesus Christ. mrgreen

aaaaahhhh! *Tackles* Where on earth (or gaia) have you BEEN!?!?!

well, it is certainly good to see you. smile