Leadership Defined

Knowing the Principles of Leadership is good for a start but only if you can define leadership. John Maxwell, one of my favorite leadership teachers, defines leadership as "influence, nothing more and nothing less."

The FM 22-100 says, "Leadership is the process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction, and motivation."

There's that word again: influence! Influence is the capacity of persons to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others. The word's origin mean "to flow" as a river flows and impacts the surface of the earth. That's leadership: flowing with impact! When the river flows, it takes what is given to it as gravity moves it along. If it has to turn, it will. If it gets rough, it keeps moving. Leaders have to learn to flow through missions and adjust to any given situation - that's flowing with impact!

As a Christian, my flowing impact has a gravity also - God. God has placed His Spirit within me to help guide and direct me. Through this guidance, I have principles and standards that govern my life. I cannot force my spiritual faith on others as a leader but my influence garners their respect as I stand firm on those principles that guide my decisions. If I have principles, then I cannot expect anything less of those I lead. These priorities in my life are what enable me to establish purpose in any given task or mission.

Purpose

Purpose gives people a reason why they should accomplish a mission or task. Priorities keep the mission flowing. As a leader, my job is to provide purpose by helping establish priorities, by explaining the importance of the task at hand (don't assume they know), and by keeping people focused.

Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. Proverbs 20:18 (MSG)

Direction

Direction shows what must be done. Just as the Spirit of God gives me direction, I as a leader must provide direction to those I lead. Ever try orienteering? Ever try it without being given a destination? Without a destination followers will quickly become stragglers who eventually jump ship. Leaders build influence when they can clearly articulate a mission or task.

By setting standards that are clearly identified and providing training that reinforces those standards and expectation, leaders will effectively build confidence in their employees, volunteers, soldiers, or whomever.

Motivation

Those you lead will not care until they know you care. If you hate a task, what makes you think your people will like it? You can hate a task without demotivating your people. Proper motivation with encourage initiative from those being led. Look at this leadership lesson from Jesus:

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way." Matthew 15:32 (NIV)

Jesus cared for those around Him and they followed even without food! Caring for people, challenging them with proper and interesting training, developing a cohesive team, rewarding successes, and giving people all the responsibility they can handle are all means of proper motivation. Motivation builds trust.

How have you been influencing those following you? How are you providing purpose? How do you give direction? How motivational have you been lately? Let me know what you think.