Becoming A Transformational Leader

BECOMING A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER
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BECOMING A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER
BECOMING A TRANSFORMATIONAL
LEADER
ENGAGING AUTHENTICITY
By Dr. PJ Edmund, Sr.
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BECOMING A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the
King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the New International
Version Bible.
BECOMING A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER
Copyright © 2017 by PJ Edmund, Sr.,
Published by
SWEEDIEGERALD PUBLISHING HOUSE
PO Box 394
Bowie, Maryland 20719
All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.
Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any
form without the express written consent of the Publisher.
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BECOMING A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
The Call to Effectiveness
The Need for Effectiveness and Transformation
Leadership Development
Leadership Principles
Understanding Effective and Transformational Leaders
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INTRODUCTION
Becoming A Transformational Leader (Engaging Authenticity) focuses on
the continuous equipping and preparation required to produce leaders
that have the capabilities of enabling and sustaining real change. The
first level of effectiveness speaks to success, but success that is
measurable and continues to produce the desired result. How leaders
know that they are being successful is an important statement of
continuing to lead effectively. Understanding what effectiveness is and
what authentic transformation looks like is key to the challenge for
change.
While the subject of effective leadership its faith, efficiency and
transformational nature has been handled extensively by many it still
remains of central importance and relevance. The discussion of it,
understanding of it and reliance upon it, through the centuries of
human existence has not changed the vitality and mystery discovering
the full power of the scope of leadership. My reflection in this area is
simply to underscore how relevant faith in God is today as it has always
been. Yet we can never exhaust this particular area of a leader’s
existence which remains under constant attack by the defector of the
faith, who by means of spiritual warfare would fight the very thing that
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brings reality and meaning to our leadership destiny. The enemy is not
consumed by our things, our possessions nor our accomplishments, but
consumed by the thing that brings all of these things into reality for the
effective and transformational leader which is our faith. The platform
and definitive leadership guide concerning faith for the purpose of this
writing is centered on the great Hebrews 11 rendering.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things
not seen” – Hebrews 11:1
The faith that effective and transformational leaders possess is the
means by which we assume the confidence of things being real while
knowing they are real based upon the confidence that we have in God
and His ability to stand behind the evidence of that reality. Being able to
see what we have confidence in becomes irrelevant when the power of
God is visible and operative. Our faith by connection to God materializes
in the actions we take, the choices we make and the decisions we
undertake. Faith is the principle and foundation for all effective and
transformational leadership success. It is central to the survival of all of
us that believe. In many ways the places of worship that are filled to
capacity every weekend deliver instruction in the understanding, the
articulation and the application of faith. I call these gatherings
“universities of faith” because they inspire learning about the central
theme of our existence and relationship with God. This is where we
learn the elements, the rudiments and the establishment of faith! The
path of faith is not always a linear one, meaning beginning at one point
and smoothly continuing to a final end. It is the culmination of many
journeys, eventualities and recommitments. Each portion of the journey
is unique. Each step, success or set back draws on our individual
resilience to continue to climb toward our purpose. The effective and
transformational lleader while pursuing effectiveness and
transformational behavior must not lose sight of the foundation of
faith!
“For we walk by faith and not by sight” – 2 Corinthians 5:7
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Walking by faith does not always predict the types of circumstances
effective and transformational leaders will be ultimately challenged by.
So in general terms effective leaders must walk in faith disregarding
what we walk through. This challenges but also strengthens our ability
to walk. What we see naturally will challenge the pursuit of our goals,
dreams and ambitions. The journey often forces us to close our eyes,
becoming blind to what we see naturally and depend entirely on what
we believe spiritually to lead others. Faith understands the effective and
transformational leader’s process and journey. Effectiveness and
accomplishment does not always mean there have not been adversities.
It means that in spite of the adversities effective and transformational
leaders by the grace of God prevail! Every time we rebound, recover,
resume or try again we draw on another incredible level of faith. The
power of God reactivates the energy to return to the mindset and belief
system that is necessary to achieve the reality of our faith which leads
to transformational success.
What does it mean to an effective and transformational leader to start
over and begin faith dependence again? How do leaders reassemble
ourselves, put our best foot forward and attempt to build and lead
again. Effective and transformational Leaders all learn the skill of rapidly
releasing the failure or frustration of our past experiences by taking the
painful but necessary steps to begin trusting God again! Every believer
has the power within to resurge, to rebound and to re-engage the
strength to reclaim focus and clarity. Recouping the power to forget
what is behind us while reminding ourselves of the future that is still
ahead of us is the work of progressive leadership faith. It is one thing to
recover from losing something. It is another thing to call up the strength
to go through the process of starting again. Leaders must learn how to
harness the power of indifference and rebound with even more
determination and courage to reach again for what we believe God has
spoken in our lives. With every step of faith, effective and
transformational leaders must lead with integrity and courage.
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CHAPTER 1
THE CALL TO EFFECTIVENESS
There are many voices in the world but the One that changes destiny is
only heard by the faithful leader.
EFFECTIVENESS
Effective leaders must be prepared and equipped to handle multiple
responsibilities even before developing a team of effective leaders.
Effectiveness must be cultivated, assessed and reviewed. Effectiveness
must become a lifestyle in the life of the organization. Before
effectiveness can be established it must be understood and replicated.
Effective leadership is the combination of commitment and personal
strength to champion the push for next level operations and work. This
ability must be honed in order for effectiveness to be part of the culture
of change. Effective leadership is more than delegation and direction.
Effectiveness requires vision, teamwork, preparation and planning. The
commitment to these processes result in the culture effectiveness
becoming a reality and not a periodic implementation. An effective
leader understands themselves, what they want and how to build a
team that improves the areas of limitations. Effectiveness is about the
working together and complementation of gift sets and skill sets so that
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everyone becomes better. For this purpose we will hold to the following
definition of effectiveness that will further be referred to throughout
this book.
Definition - Effectiveness is the preparation and adequacy to truly
accomplish a purpose resulting in the expectation of the vision.
Effectiveness must begin with the development of a clear vision clear
goals and clear outcomes. The vision is concerned with establishing a
target that everyone can visualize. To be effective and manage a team
of effective leaders, each member must know what it is that they are
working towards. The vision cannot be obscure or hidden in a person’s
mind. Vision must be shared clearly and cleverly so that everyone can
be confident of achieving the goal of effectiveness. The overarching
vision is one phase, the communication of that vision to each
component that is responsible for their part of the vision is also key. An
effective leader instinctively know the purpose, direction and goals of
each unit or component of the vision. What will assist effectiveness are
innovative and creative strategies by which to attain these goals.
Effectiveness does not appear overnight! It is the result of the practice
and repetition of performance that produces the results of
effectiveness.
TRANSFORMATION
The transformational leader remains open to new ideas and new
challenges. This leader understands that the formula for embracing
effectiveness, change and innovation begins with the acknowledgement
of the role of the mind in everything we do. Our situations will not
change until our mind changes. When we expose our minds to
development, training, coaching and teaching it allows new thought
processes to guide us to becoming new thinkers and therefore new and
different leaders. Without the engagement of the mind we lose the
ability to envision beyond our regular boundaries. It is the stretching of
these boundaries that allows the appreciation of innovative, although
different, solutions and remedies. In order to view something new,
leaders must first be able to discern and view what is old or in need of
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changing. It is the void of ineffectiveness that provides the inspiration
for the work of transformation and renewal.
“Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind” (Romans 12:2)
The progressive mind of a leader has the ability to renewed and
refreshed. This means that old ideas, philosophies, ideologies and
methods can be exchange for improved thinking which can only result in
renewed vision and innovation. The transformed or transformational
leader seeks to gain opportunities to change the mind before changing
anything else. To change any else failing to acknowledge the principle
step in transformation achievement. For this purpose we will hold to
the following definition of effectiveness that will further be referred to
throughout this book.
Definition – Transformation is the actual change in form and or
appearance an entity that reveals an enhanced character or product.
LEADERS ARE SUMMONED
Leaders are called to solve leadership and vision challenges. There are
numerous challenges that face the delivery of vision. God has always
used the entity of humanity to carry out His vision in the earth. The
formula for effective leadership has always been God calls you, and
causes you to follow Him as you lead others. The vision is developed
and prepared. Many times the leader is not developed and unprepared.
It is in the pursuit of vision that God equips the leader to be functional
and effective. In other words we are not always what we should be prior
to being called. The call is God’s way of validating you and giving you
confidence that there is a future for you. If God waited until we were
ready before He called us then many of us would still be in limbo
waiting for something to happen. Every leader should be in total
relationship with a perfect God who perfects His leaders by shaping
them into what He requires them to be. There are times that your
definition of leadership differs from what God operates by.
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“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
What you are being led to is not always evident or clear. God’s
methodology is to embody the vision in a person who he heralds as
leader. The vision is not always clear to the ones that you have been
commissioned to lead. This is why God invariably will cause those being
led to follow the God in His leader. Confident leaders will inspire
confidence in their teams, disciples or followers to follow them as they
are directed and led by God. Leadership is the ability to motivate and
inspire others in their perception and faith in the leading of God. Unless
we are persuaded by what we are being led to, it will always be
challenging to commit to who are following.
THE CALL
How do you explain the call to leadership? I have yet to find anyone that
did not struggle with describing or articulating what it meant to sense a
summons to lead. You might feel as though the whole world needs to
know that you have had an experience with God and have clearly and
succinctly received your call to leadership and to lead in some capacity.
The woman at Sychar’s well felt the same urgent need to disclose to the
whole world the discovery, the manifestation, and the revelation of
Jesus the Christ in her life. To a person that has not accepted the call of
God or had Jesus specifically revealed, this awakening does not make
sense. You try to describe it, but no doubt you will find it still unclear to
your listeners no matter how much persuasion or reasoning you use.
When you meet a celebrity of significant importance it can be
intimidating, even uncomfortable. However, a meeting like that does
not compare to the experience of this once-in-a-life-time encounter
with the Savior of the Universe, Jesus! The call to effective leadership is
fundamental, the call is unique, the call is tremendous, but the call is
also inexplicable. The moment of the call has been experienced by many
spiritual greats throughout scripture and in the modern and
contemporary world. Yet the experience itself is impossible to
document or make known to the limited minds of man the limitless
revelation of Jesus. The evidence of the call experience is creatively and
spiritually stored in your heart and mind where it can never be erased. I
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really like what Nehemiah shared when he received the call from God to
rebuild a moral and spirit worn Jerusalem. He told no one what God had
put in his heart to do but knew beyond all doubt, not just reasonable
doubt, but beyond all doubt that God had put a specific leadership work
in his heart for the people of God. I think that is the key. You need to be
persuaded with all of your being, body, mind and soul that God has
called you. This is the one thing that will sustain you during your walk
through leadership and leadership experience.
THE GREATEST CALL IN THE WORLD
The greatest experience in my opinion is engaging the God in whose
universe you exist. You have experienced the call to lead, unequivocally,
the greatest call in the world. Now you may be asking yourself, what is
the next step? Now that God has summoned you through His revelatory
power, how do you handle the silence, the speechlessness, and the
myriad of questions that follow? What is your next move? It is a call to a
New World with unveiled realities and mysterious terrain’s. Yet there is
no clear path for you to embark upon. After the initial call experience
things in your life really begin to change. During the experiential
moment of truth, the call, the vision, the revelation, seems so clear. For
at that moment God pulls back the apprehension and the indecision in
your mind and releases revelation regarding His perfect will for your life.
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CHAPTER 2
THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVENESS AND
TRANSFORMATION
I pray that as an effective leader you will search out the purpose of your
calling in leadership, never stopping until you live in full transformation.
THE NEED
To recognize the need for transformation and effectiveness is perhaps
the greatest gift that any leader can possess. Knowing there is another
level and charting the path to that next level is an incredible
achievement. It is not enough to know you have to change, that change
must come into effect. An essential and critical challenge to leaders has
been the lack of proficient and relevant leadership training. If there is
lack in preparation it is evidenced in the end result by the lack in
productivity and effectiveness. Training waters the seed of greatness
that God has spiritually embedded in every leader. The potential that is
within us must be nurtured to produce what God intended. So it is not a
question of the gift that is present, but the environment that works
what is in us, that encourages leadership growth. While potential to be
great is a pleasing thought, arrival at the destiny of greatness is a joy
that should not be minimized. As leaders I believe we have talked
enough about the possibilities in God. It is time for the leader in all of us
to walk practically in the finished work of God in our lives.
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“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor 3:6)
The training and preparation principle that is relevant here is that there
is a process that a leader must go through to raise the gift of leadership
from potential to perfection. Paul recognizes this process in establishing
and planting churches. There must first be the work of planting, which
God in His wisdom has already provided in the life of the leader. So we
must always do the first work, plant. Jeremiah records the word of the
Lord in his life, that “before you were formed in the belly I ordained you
to be a prophet to the nations!”. So every leader has been birthed with
the possibility of greatness. There must also be the work part of this
process of moving from potential to perfection. It is described in I
Corinthians 3:6 as the watering stage. Watering represents those times
in our leadership lives that present both favorable and non-favorable
conditions that somehow and miraculously do not harm the seed that is
planted but in all cases enhances and encourages growth. Then there
must the work of increase which God reserves for Himself. That word
“giveth increase” literally means that God causes that which is planted
to grow. To make sure that human effort is never given credit for the
final outcome, God causes the seed planted to prosper no matter what
the conditions.
What happens to a seed that is never embraced? What becomes of the
gift that is never stirred? What is the result of the seed or gift that is
never challenged? That seed of leadership ability perhaps remains and
endures the test of time but fails the test of growing or reproducing.
Christian leadership training is that essential and often missing element
in many leaders repertoire that ignites the next level of growth in vision
thinking, vision believing and vision achieving.
SEED OF GREATNESS
The farmer understands the mechanics of causing potential to grow.
There are two critical truths that are in operation in the experience and
psychology of those that urge growth. First, the seed is determined to
be good, and second, the ground that it is planted in is determined to
be good. These two elements establish everything that is getting ready
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to happen in the life of the seed of greatness. Everything that is getting
ready to happen in the life of the Christian leader is predicated on these
truths being valid. The leadership seed in the leader is great and the
leader it has been embedded in has been created to produce greatness.
Paul in Ephesians 2:10 states that “we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works”. The intention by God when he created
the leadership ability in you was to produce something and someone
that would achieve greatness. Never allow the experiences, positive or
negative in our lives to divert the growth potential that is in you.
Through all of the bad weather that leaders endure, the outcome will
always manifest as good. The farmer always believes it will work out in
the end, if you don’t quit and work it.
ESSENTIALITY
While a plethora of leaders have not been widely exposed to systemic
and consistent training, usually in the basic truths of the Christian faith,
there remains a wide range of unmet training needs. While many
leaders have the benefit of mentors or fathers in the Gospel, many
remain disconnected from the shared success required to grow in their
leadership capabilities. We need fathers who will love us and pour into
us so that the level of leadership excellence does not diminish from one
generation or era to another. Without the emphasis on proven Christian
leadership skills that produce effective results in leadership, the door
has been left open for the increase of non-biblical foundational
teachings and practices that may have the form of inspiration and
enlightenment but produce little fruit in the lives of eager and thirsty
leaders in pursuit of leadership excellence. When leadership teams do
not receive training that emphasize relevant Kingdom leadership
principles, individual, church and leadership team growth is impacted
and stifled. This impact is best seen in the inability and frustration in not
achieving the vision results believed by vision.
“It's not that I have already reached this goal or have already become
perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it” (Phil 3:2)
International Standard Version
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The need of Christian leadership training and development is a personal
journey that can begins with the desire in a leader to rise to the level
that has been revealed by God. There is something in the spirit of every
leader that dictates the level of intensity and effort to strive for more. It
often appears, on face value, as stressful, dissatisfaction and frustration
concerning the progress and growth of leadership. Directed training
prompts the intensity of leadership preparation and provides an
environment where leaders can be taught leadership essentials such as
how to move vision, the power of covenant agreement and effective
team management. Everything needs preparation. Don’t dismiss the
season of your preparation. The season of preparation though
uneventful at times is setting the stage for future advancement.
Preparation always seems disconnected to the end result. Preparation
deals with the perfecting of the gifts in the leader. While the gifts are
being prepared, the field in which the leadership gift is to grow does not
always flow in the sequence or order that they will eventually appear in.
The wonder about gift development is that the total picture of
fulfillment is often deferred until all gift sets are prepared. It is God in
His appointed time and appointed season that connects the gifts so that
they relate to appointed purpose. It is not until the end result is realized
that the path of preparation and development is also realized.
LEADERSHIP PREPARATION
Leadership training and preparation then must be carried out, poured
out by proficient, caring, passionate mentors and trainers who have
been called by God to see men and women of God pursue vision
excellence and success. Without these dedicated pastors and training
professionals who have a passion to teach, instruct and empower,
leaders will still wander in the wilderness knowing that Canaan is out
there, yet getting closer to stepping the promise than when they were
first called. In addition, without teaching and transformational training
on sustaining proven essential leadership principles, Christian leaders
may vacillate between the conception of their gifts and the fulfillment
of their calling. One of the most tragic scenarios in the Kingdom is
having the potential of God in you, without the mechanism or
infrastructure to mature it to the state and level that you through Christ
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are capable of. This level of frustration can easily be rectified through
commitment to regular exposure to key training areas which provide
motivation to keep leadership skills turning over. The leader is a leader
before the realization of leadership. The seed of leadership has been
sown by God for the advancement of the kingdom agenda. I often teach
that if you have not learnt to be a competent driver prior to taking your
driving test, then the results of that incompetence will be realized in the
failed test. You are a driver before you take the test. The driving test is
the means to affirm and recognized what you should know as you are
sitting behind the wheel taking the test. You are a leader in training to
demonstrate to the world, and to your God-given assignment that what
is in you is ready to take the step to the next dimension.
Preparation is in everything that God does. Preparation is for us to learn
how to handle the greatness is in us. God does not deal with anything
but greatness. Greatness is who He is and who He will always be. To be
in relationship and fellowship with God means every leader must learn
how to handle the greatness of God and the greatness within. It is the
virtue and quality of God that raises our expectations for greatness. This
is sometimes a difficult concept to receive because will place greatness
in weakness.
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CHAPTER 3
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
I pray that as an effective leader you will capture the vision and zeal for
the work of development and preparation.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Effective and transformational leaders exhibit a commitment to
directed development and preparation. There is a real desire to be
enhanced and elevated in thinking and practical knowledge. The
purpose of training and development is to ensure that leadership and
leaders can effectively sharpen their natural and spiritual gifts to
accomplish their call and gifting. This area of preparation and equipping
is quite important in the journey of realizing effectiveness. The
leadership world in which we now live was changing but now has
changed. The demand for a competent display of quality leadership and
quality leadership presentation has reached new heights and
expectations. This is a different generation crying for a different level of
excellence from Christian leadership. There is a new standard of
excellence in leadership and the continuous preparation of leaders to
acquire this new level of excellence through training is no longer
optional. Training and development provides the platform for preparing
the gift-carrying leader to strive to meet the demand for this elevated
level of excellence. Training and development in the Kingdom and
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Christian environment has the purpose of educating, instructing or
causing leaders to grow in a specific vision direction. Christian training is
a guided, spiritual process. The trainer imparts specific and targeted
wisdom, knowledge and understanding that the learner receives takes it
in order to grow in their leadership. Training should impart concept and
theory that should produce manifested truth leading to applicable
steps. This process of training is interactive and development. Training
in the life of the progressive leader is intended to build bridges to
learning and excellence both biblically and educationally.
The way in which churches, ministries and leadership teams train has
changed and is continuing to change. The outcome still remains to
develop relevant skills, knowledge, ability and attitude to be more
effective in advancing leadership and the Kingdom. The relevance of
training goes a long way to building confidence in leaders and
leadership teams who learn tremendously from current practices and
enhancements in leadership. The impartation of enhancements really
provides the platform for leaders to examine their level of leadership
impact and provide an opportunity to become more effective in their
calling.
“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2)
The transformation of training ties to the revelation that God inevitably
provides so that leaders begin to see vision and the divine plan of God.
Training provides that door to transformation opportunities for leaders
who realize there is something more that needs to be developed to
achieve the excellence of God. It is the hunger and thirst in our souls
that brings about the desire to be equipped and prepared to carry out
what we see by vision. Every leader needs a Sinai experience where we
receive the revelation, the structure and the instructions directly from
God himself. Those that we lead may not understand why it took so
long in the mountain, and might even begin behaving in destructive
behavior while waiting for the vision report; however it becomes the job
of the leader to transmit and transfer what has been received in the
mountain to the teams, the leaders, the people that comprise the team.
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When God releases and reveals the plan your leadership it charts the
course for the rest of the history of our walk with Him!
WHY
Why train and why develop leaders are questions that leaders
constantly wrestle with. Training takes time, it requires investment and
it takes desire. The results of the training are not always easily or quickly
realized in the life of the leader. To remain on the cutting edge of
leadership development and skills, the leader needs to prioritize the
seasons of preparation with great importance. Those who do not retool,
or refuse to commit to the effort of refreshing and restructuring will pay
the price in the obvious lack of effectiveness and personal satisfaction in
leadership. You are not the only one who notices this. Good leaders are
always retooling and refreshing themselves to meet changing
expectations and standards. The needs of leadership in the 21st century
have changed significantly calling on leadership teams and leaders to
stay current with how to meet the challenge of a diverse and changing
era. Staying current means to stay connected to what God is doing in
the Kingdom. Leaders can either establish a path of preparation or then
ask God to bless it, or scan the kingdom and determine what God is
already blessing. Why? Why not? There is no profession or professional
industry that does not reinvent itself, recalibrate itself. So quick is the
advancement of technology, that no sooner have you removed the item
from the wrapper, the latest or newest version or upgrade is available.
Even more, God is always speaking in fresh and revelatory ways to His
people. A fresh word cannot fall on dull ears of leaders!
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch
will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do
people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst;
the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new
wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matt 9:14) NIV
Training generates new ideologies and strategies that the leader can
import directly into impacting gift development. Old methods resist and
restrict new methodology. Training challenges the paradigms and
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structures of the past and present fresh, new ways to deliver leadership.
To receive new and upcoming leaders, the existing system must also
upgrade. The old wine skin must be replaced with new wine skins to be
able to handle the new leader. The progressive leader wants to keep
their heart beat in rhythm with the heart beat of God. It is God who
generates the innovation, creativity and strategies to continue to make
His word appealing and exciting to new hearers. God is always pouring
in new oil and new wine.
TRAINING PROGRAM
Training is a plan to affect the future of leadership and kingdom
relevance. The training plan and purpose of Jesus was quite simple. Only
God could devise a plan simple, complex, and profound simultaneously.
Jesus operated in that duality quite often as He was both human and
divine, flesh and spirit, Son of Man and Son of God. Jesus recruited
twelve relatively ordinary men, trained them for three years involving
them in directed mentoring, then sent them out equipped and prepared
in the principles of leadership. Not just sending them out, but sending
them out with the purpose of recreating who He had created them to
be, disciples. From the beginning Jesus dealt with quality and not
quantity. There is an abundance of people to lead, but a deficit of
prepared leaders to meet the need of people seeking to be led. The
Leader Today recognizes that a strong foundation in leadership
preparation is not wasted time. Learning to disciple and model effective
leadership strategies is an investment in the future of kingdom building
and the platform to change generations. The training program that
Jesus used is the foundation for contemporary leadership preparation.
Training resembles the mustard seed process and visualizes the growth
potential and process of the leadership development. With faith and
belief in God, just like the mustard seed, your leadership ability can
emerge rapidly. Faith begins in a simple belief statement that
mushrooms into the unbelievable. Training waters and nurtures the
potential of God’s leaders until they through maturation resemble the
finished product, a Leader Today!
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INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY
The “Good news” of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been the tool that
God has chosen to change the lives of people all over the world. This
tool has been used by generations of leaders to effectively bring change.
The methods used to deliver the gospel have been varied and creative.
The innovation required to reach transforming generations is critical to
the reaching of that generation. What is to be shared remains as
powerful and relevant since Christ himself declared it during His earthly
leadership. How the Gospel is delivered is as important as the message
itself.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how
can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can
they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14)
Creativity becomes the flow through of God to leaders that actively seek
Him. Things must happen, signs and wonders must be visible in the life
of the leader who is engaged to, married to God! The leader must
understand that the world will not hear the gospel until it is preached.
So the whole creation is waiting for leaders and preachers!
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CHAPTER 4
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
I pray that as an effective leader you will be principle-based and
biblically conscious in how you implement courageous leadership
strategies.
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
Effective and transformational leaders are principle based. They
understand principles, live by them and continuously consult them to
ensure the direction of their effectiveness remains constant. Principles
are foundational and fundamental truths that direct and challenge the
kind of behavior that proves the inference of the principle itself.
Principles are established, tried and proven strategies and guidelines
that enable keen and inspirational leaders to trust in that path it has
prescribed for growth and effective development. There are not
revisions or redactions of principles. What they have achieved will be
achieved no matter who is guided by them. The work of principles does
not take into account gender, education, ethnicity, creed or origin. The
principle ingredient to successful achieve the outcome of principles is
obedience and trust.
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“ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth
forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever
he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:3)
The principle of seasons gives way to its own path and reasoning. It is
not controlled by who is walking on the path, or who believes the path
they are on is even profitable. Principles work because they are
universal and deliverable. They deliver what they say they will, and
produce what they say they will deliver if the rules that have been
established are adhered to faithfully. David suggests that whatever the
other elements might be doing, if you follow the principle process you
will produce fruit. The fruit, or end result, does not come into being at
the same time as others, but it will produce in “its season”. The end
result of the season is because the person engaged in this principle,
according to Psalms 1:1 “ walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”.
There is always the right outcome when there is the right income. The
right seed planted methodically following the approved principle of
sowing, will always produce the right harvest. If effective and
transformational leadership is the desired outcome, then the right
principle and process must be followed, both faithfully and obediently.
INNOVATORS
Leaders are principle based innovators. They receive the teaching of the
word of God with great passion and interest. We believe that in the
word of God reside the life changing principles and revelations that
generate inspiration. David teaches, “and in that law doth he meditate
day and night” (Psalms 1:3). This sets the bar and the standard high for
the leader who intends to inherit all of the promises and principles of
God through His word. It takes the dedication and discipline of the
progressive leader to devote their time to the understanding of the
principles of God so that those principles might be applied in leadership
situations. The principles embedded in the word of God are to be
searched out as they are hidden, reserved in fact for the faithful and
hungry leader. Since God is highly and efficiently organized, and
operates in the same format, to receive the inheritance of His promises,
leaders must align themselves with the processes and formats of God.
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You seldom become a leader with desire alone. Leadership must be
supported and nurtured and honed to reach its maximum ability. Great
leaders are motivated by principles and strategies which enhance their
directed growth and development. Leadership development is a plan
that when carefully followed produces the necessary abilities to lead.
Every leader depends on God to bring about the definition by God. Our
life story, experiences, and other apparent misfortunes weave great
learning into the plan originally intended for every leader. The path has
been prepared and the experiences allowed qualifying and proving what
we are aspiring towards. Leaders are led and taught to lead by proving
their ability to be led. It is during these experiences that one learns the
compassion and humility needed to serve and be served.
DISAPPOINTED AND APPOINTED
King David rose through the ranks to become one of Israel’s most
beloved and cherished leaders. His beginning was humbled yet he
understood the season of preparation. It is clear that he was not high on
the list to be called as King because Jesse did not even present him as a
possibility to Nathan. David carried on doing what he was trained to do,
to serve and protect. He was in the field while his brothers were jostling
for position in the house. Every leader must come to terms with their
leadership and servant hood and not believe that just because they are
not being requested does not mean that your season is not near. I am
sure that David heard the buzz of preparation regarding Nathan the
prophet coming to their home but he remained in the field until he was
called. I think that teaches by itself. Keep working in the field until you
are called. Another teachable principle to underscore is that the
experiences that David went through in the field intensified his ability to
handle the next level of responsibility. While handling his responsibility
of a shepherd David learnt leadership qualities. God is wise in that the
small assignments that He gives to us provide the conceptual and actual
preparation we will need to handle more. When you can handle and
skillfully develop the concept of leadership it becomes less about what
you lead but how you lead it. The sheep become David’s kingdom in
development and though called a shepherd; he was yet in the
preparation and apprenticeship stages of his kingship. He learnt the
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worthiness of shepherding that transferred into his ability to lead Israel.
The fight with the lion and bear all proved that David had learned the
concept of covering and protecting what is important. Israel was
important to God and the person to lead them had to have His heart
and gain theirs. It was obvious that Nathan was not going to find the
next King of Israel where he was looking so God had to direct his
attention to the place where the King was, in the field. There might have
been disappointment in the house but the appointment was in the field.
After the preparation, it is always the sovereign will and power of God
that brings us into the place of appointment.
“Faithful over a few things and I will make you ruler over many”
God always begins with the conceptual. Vision is conceptual and not
actual. As long as we are driven by concept or vision, the actuals do not
play a part in our development. Faithfulness over the few conceptually,
translates to ruler ship over many actually. Though it does not feel like
anything significant is being achieved while being faithful over the few,
conceptually it presents a greater appreciation once the greater thing is
released by God in the leaders life.
LEADERS PLAN
Leaders plan. The gift of leadership is the perception and knowing when
to be proactive and not reactive. Leaders plan and early identify
strategies to resolve challenges to the advancement of leadership and
leadership goals. The discernment that every leader should pray for is
the ability to sense crisis before crisis appears. Vision allows leaders to
observe potential threats to the advancement of leadership teams and
programs, and allows for decisive action to be taken to keep the
momentum of leadership moving. This discernment does not come in
isolation. It is derived through intimate and quality time spent with God
who infuses leaders with opportunities to analyze and adapt plans to
bring about new seasons and new levels of excellence. One must
consider if there was a plan for Jesus then there must be a plan for
everyone. God operates by plan, created the world by plan, designed
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the universe by plan and brings leaders to their destiny by the
predestined plan. Leaders plan because God is a thoughtful and planful.
LEADERS OPERATE BY VISION
Leaders operate by divine vision. The vision comes from God but keen
leaders record or write what they hear and receive from God. This stage
is critical because as discussed previously the vision confirms direction
and instruction. Receiving vision in theory is not sufficient to generate
the energy to achieve what God has made known. Vision embodies
every resource, principle and growth potential that leaders require
maturing in their gifting. Vision contains the essence of what is to be
accomplished or produced. What the vision now requires is a village in
the St. Catherine, Jamaica, West Indies called “Time and Patience”.
Every leader needs simple time and patience. It will grow!
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time” (Habukkuk 2:3)
The vision for leadership advancement is set by God and our efforts
prepare what is getting ready to be produced. The appointed time has
been calibrated by God when it is absolutely needed for movement.
This is why God will inspire the leader and leadership in moments of
failure or destruction. That is the time for the vision to speak.
LEADERS SHARE VISION
Leaders share their vision from God. No leader can accomplish the
amazing gift of God without others sharing in that vision. This is why the
body of Christ ultimately cannot function to its fullest capability and
capacity until all gifts birthed from God function and cooperate
together. By sharing the vision, especially with the leadership team that
God has given you causes synergy and unity to take place. Sharing your
leadership vision embraces others and develops the team to accomplish
the reality of the vision. Vision is as important to a leader as air is to life.
With vision comes support. Without support it hinders the progress of
vision. To share the vision is to position it to succeed. Vision is so large,
and so unbelievable, that it takes more than one person to accomplish
it. To share God’s vision is to bring other gifts together. Every vision
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requires a plethora of gifts and talents to make it happen. While the
vision is supernatural, to execute it leaders need to have talents. When
a leader shares the vision it becomes attractive to gifted people. Every
good leader shares the vision to bring it to life.
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CHAPTER 5
UNDERSTANDING EFFECTIVE AND
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS
There are many voices in the world but the One that changes destiny is
only heard by the faithful leaders.
EFFECTIVE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS
The effective and transformational leader understands that their gifting
is a blessing. The gift of leadership is birthed in every believer. Every
Christian leader has tremendous contributions to leadership. The
success for future generations depends largely on forward thinking
pastors taking responsibility to train up successors. There are keys to
developing effectiveness in leadership preparation. The Effective and
Transformational Leader speaks to the heart of what makes a Christian
leader excel in challenging, curious and courageous times. To say the
least leadership comes laden with levels of pressure, stress and
unpredictability. One of the ways to stay current and ahead of the ever
changing leadership challenges is to invest in continuous
transformation.
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The Effective and Transformational leader embraces the thinking of
what the 21st Century Christian leader must become to stay current in a
changing and transforming generation. It begins with understanding
vision. Anything to be aspired to must have a vision. The vision
describes the end result of what God has already done. To help us make
the first steps in leadership God paints a picture of what you are going
to become eventually. It is the eventually picture that motivates each
day and each step. No one climbs a mountain without first visualizing or
seeing the summit. The summit confirms that there is an end to the
journey. Likewise the vision confirms there is a conclusion to what God
has promised.
“The steps of a righteous person are ordered by the Lord” (Psalms
37:23).
Effective and transformational leader’s steps are always governed by
the leading of God. This ordering is God’s way of ensuring that we know
there is some logical, pattern and plan to the journey. When I cannot
see where I am going, I can trust the steps that He orders me to take
confidently. Leadership is constantly reminding yourself that He knows
my path and my purpose even when we are in doubt. Effective and
transformational leaders “see” before they “see”. God’s leader sees in
the supernatural what has not arrived in the natural yet. This leader
starts the journey towards what we can become, while we are yet
becoming it. It is a strange relationship of development, believing I am
what I have not yet become, but knowing we are becoming it. The
natural order of things is to acquire the skills to become skillful, then
operate in that calling. The supernatural order of things is to have what
it takes to become while growing the capability to operate in it.
Effective and transformational leaders must grow into the maturity of
“risky faith”. Not knowing the outcome of anything is difficult. Leaders
do not always know the outcome but they believe in an outcome
through faith. If faith is a risk then it is a good risk because our
relationship with God stands as the guarantor. When we trust in His
word, it becomes the guarantee that we move towards. So believing
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God and trusting what He challenges us with is never a risk. What He
says and what He prompts in our hearts is conclusion and not
conception. The risk has already been taken and the price already paid.
Why is faith risky? Risky because the promises of God are sure even
when we are not sure! The element of risk surfaces in the mind where
we often complicate the promises of God. In concert with the spirit, we
must remind ourselves of the safety of His word. If it is a risk, it is a
calculated and confident risk. Remember if God is the guarantor then
there is a tremendous amount of certainty in His ability to bring to pass
what He has spoken.
The effective and transformational leader that understands the risk
factor never waits for everything to be perfect before moving with the
vision of God. We are fully persuaded by God towards the vision. It is
difficult holding to a clear word from God and still trying to navigate
your current situation. We live in the “terrestrial” and God speaks to us
from the “celestial”. The risk, if it is indeed a risk, is secured and
cemented in our relationship with the guarantor. The commitment to
leadership is required in spite of changing environments. Faithfulness
does not take into consideration what the elements are affecting the
faithfulness.
Faithfulness marches on whatever the opposition is to the success of
leadership. Changing environments, emotions, directions or instructions
does not change the faith. We keep the faith no matter we see. Of
course, faith is not what is seen, it is what is believed! Keep the faith
and let everything else go. In our attempt to be faithful we often keep
the thing that is destroying our faith. So, we let doubt go, and we keep
the faith. You keep the faith when you constantly decide to become the
leader that He has called you to be no matter what you think of yourself
or the progress you are making. You keep the faith when you reaffirm
the image and vision in your spirit and not the self-image in your mind.
Effective and transformational leaders sometimes struggle with
seasons. The seasons change but what God has planted remains. The
seasons come to provide the environment in which the gift and leader is
established. It is when we walk through the changing environments and
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emerges with the same belief system and faith, that the clarity of who
we are is affirmed. In other words, the environment changed, but the
purpose did not.
Effective and transformational leaders require developing and
grooming. God provides wonderful gifts as people we can all learn from
and learn with. Think about how difficult it would be to raise the level of
excellence in leadership if there was no Jesus as the perfect example.
Mentoring says that God has done it before in others and confirms that
when strengthening and motivating others. Mentoring is never
duplication. You can never duplicate the creativity and innovation of
God. Mentoring says that there are experiences in others that can serve
as guide posts to a leader’s destiny. “If the blind lead the blind they will
both fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:14). This principle illustrates how
essential “seeing” mentors are to leadership development. We should
not seek to repeat the mistakes of the past, even past generations.
Mentors understand the “leadership of succession” is vital to the
reaching of legacy. Mentors understand that while they have carried the
torch of excellence for a time, it must be sustained for future
generations. Without a connection with the past (the beginning), the
future might be missed. Mentors understand that what they have
learned through experience is a gift from God to sow into the future of
others. There is an understanding in the code of the teaching gift that
the student must exceed the tutor. With this in mind, the teacher or
tutor releases all knowledge, withholding nothing, as this is what will
propel the next generation. Accountability and responsibility are the
foundational pillars of mentoring others. It is this system of parallel
understanding that enables wisdom and experience to flow. These
values and traditions do not wither with time, but gain history and
importance as the leader recognizes how they build character and
integrity.
Effective and transformational leaders have vision because they have
received vision. Visionaries exclusively see more than those they lead
but most also possess the ability to articulate what they see so vision
can be grasped. Without a vision from God, the visionary is limited in
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scope and insight. The vision that the visionary receives is a complete
picture of all that God has made available in terms of preparation,
development, achievement and establishment. God, who is both Alpha
and Omega, occupies all levels of what He ordains. He knows our end
before the beginning, and concludes before conception. The difficulty
the leader must deal with is receiving the conclusion of a matter before
the instructions for the matter. In the mind of God, we are already
complete in Him. There is no error or transition, or problem. Yet vision
seldom comes without these. The end of vision is complete in God, yet
steps are to be experienced in a variety of ways. No matter what the
steps or progression, the vision will be visualized. Vision is what propels
us and sustains in the process. It is because of vision that we stay in the
fight. This is why God will always shows you what He has promised first.
First comes the declaration and then comes the faith that should match
what has been declared. Incredibly God’s method is to promise the
destiny before showing you the result. In Genesis chapter 12 God
instructs Abram to leave his family, his father’s house and his home
town and when he accomplishes that, then God will show him a land.
This is in reverse to our thinking. In order to move, many times, we
require something to observe to convince us of whether or not our
choices are right. God’s method is to speak, then we walk, then he
shows.
Effective and transformational leaders are creative. Creativity in a
leader is a necessary gift in moving you to a level of leadership
excellence. Releasing God through our thinking breaks down limits. As a
leader it’s important to understand that God began our entire existence
with a “word of creativity”. This is the principle that should drive our
thinking and behavior. Genesis is the template for the creative power
we should walk in. God spoke, and what He imagined or thought about
became real. It began with a thought, a thought that was not limited by
possibility. Psalms describes the process as meditation. It is the
meditating on the purpose and word that God has placed in us that
promotes entrance into a different level of faith and belief.
Thoughtfulness is the place of leadership creativity. The destination that
God has purposed does not change. His will, will be done. The route or
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path to that destination can often be unpredictable. The path may
change but the purpose is fixed in the mind of God.
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