Leadership is about growing your followership

Is leadership only about being an excellent administrator or savvy politian? Also in the church, we find that these are often noted as the key performance areas. When you fail at reportwriting, or at being an excellent chairperson of the meeting, you have failed as a Christian leader.

Perhaps you might notice that this cannot be. Its not that simple and certainly, it cannot be that restrictive. Christian leader-ship has got to be rooted indeed in following the life and words of Jesus Christ. Let's continue to reflect then on Jesus' ministry and what we can learn as leaders:

1) There has to be consideration for him being a servant of the needs of people, especially the poor and needy. His key performance area was perhaps spelled out in Luke 4, where he speaks of sharing the gospel to the poor, breaking the bondages, setting the captives free, etc. He came to liberate, to set people free.

2) Jesus Christ however also consciously focussed on mentoring a small group of, what is called his 'disciples'. One could also call them a group of learnerleaders. His role was in nurturing these 12 and allowing them the space to continue the legacy of God's Kingdom. The impact of God's kingdom lies in our willingness and ability to nurture a next layer of leaders. This is often long, painstaking and heartbreaking work. Its faithwork. Its a critical leadership task.

3)Jesus listened to God and was on an ongoing journey of discernment. He kept on nurturing his relationship with God, listening, being attentive, growing. There were times, where he was stretched to the limit of what was humanly possible. Some of his disciples failed often their tests. Yet, he kept protecting the innerspace, where he could grow. How key is this for the leader's performance, i.e. to grow inwardly, to keep on discerning God's voice and actions ?

Following Jesus might often put you at odds with what is standard practice or, in line with dominant political and business models, considered to be cutting edge. Its however critical to remember that its in this obedient following that we are able to lead others.