Leadership Defined

Most simply defined, leadership is the process of influence. The process always includes a number of key components: leaders, followers, a situation in which they interact; means for influence which emerge from the leader and from the community; values; time for the interactions to occur; and goals which the leader(s) and followers seek to achieve. Leadership is a complex influence process in which leaders and followers interact in a context or a series of contexts over time. Within this context the leaders exercise influence with the followers toward a mutually desired goal. The effectiveness of the leadership process is contingent on a wide variety of contextual variables, some of which are influenced by the leader(s) and followers and some over which they have no influence.

J. R. Clinton offers a useful contemporary definition which reflects a "complex contingency" leadership perspective:

Leadership is

1. a dynamic process over an extended period of time,
2. in various situations in which a leader utilizing leadership resources,
3. and by specific leadership behaviors,
4. influences the thoughts and activity of followers,
5. toward accomplishment of person/task aims,
6. mutually beneficent for leaders, followers and the macro context of which they are a part.

in addition to these six important components in Clinton's definition, two important issues must be added. The worldview of the leader, followers and the community in which they live must also be considered. Within this world view one can find what is commonly described as philosophy, and values. One's theology also flows out of his/her worldview. A second consideration is the interactional dynamics of the variables. One can not separate the influence of the leader, followers and situation from values and influence means. All are inextricably interwoven in a dynamic influence process.

Christian leadership, however, differs from secular, business, or political leadership. Leadership models for the church "must be drawn from the scripture and evaluated in terms of accountability to Christ. These leadership models move away from the focus of personal and corporate power which aim at personal advantage so typical of non-Christian settings. These models focus on spiritual power and authority as the primary influence means of achieving God's purpose

Clinton captures this distinctive by describing a Christian leader as:

A person with God-given capacity and God-given responsibility to influence a specific group of God's people toward God's purposes for the group.

As Christian leaders we need to understand what spiritual leadership is and how it functions both to improve our own leading and to better equip others as they lead. God has called us not only to do the work of ministry, but to multiply others who will serve and equip others also.