Eight Forces of Leadership

A leader is either a leader (successful) or not a leader (unsuccessful) by definition – that is, did he get there and did people follow him and thus help him along the way.

Do you remember the definition of “leader” from American Heritage? It includes the functions of a great leader hidden within the practical examples. The definition stated:

1. One that leads or guides.
2. One who is in charge or in command of others.
3. One who has influence or power, especially of a political nature.
4. The foremost animal, such as a horse or dog, in a harnessed team.
5. A loss leader.
6. Chiefly British. The main editorial in a newspaper.
7. leaders Printing. Dots or dashes in a row leading the eye across a page, as in an index entry.
8. A pipe for conducting liquid.
9. A short length of gut, wire, or similar material by which a hook is attached to a fishing line.
10. A blank strip at the end or beginning of a film or tape used in threading or winding.
11. Botany. The growing apex or main shoot of a shrub or tree.
12. An economic indicator.

Do you see the functions of the leaders? The pipe is designed to carry fluid thus itperforms the function not only of leading the fluid (guiding force) but also contains and containing the fluid (authoritative force). The wire goes before the fishing line so that the line will not be cut by the sharp teeth of the prey (protecting force). The economic indicator is only an indicator if over time it successfully comes before an economic trend (consistent force). The lead dog is only the lead dog as long as he is harnessed in front of the others because he is obedient to lead the others (constant force). The leader of the film is never the objective of the viewer but most certainly delivers the film by going first (humble force). The main shoot of the tree is only the main shoot as long as it is healthy (qualified force) and able to support the branches that come from it (benevolent force).

These are the functions that leaders need to be supplying to their followers and to their tasks. Why use the word force? Let’s take a look at its definition excerpted from American Heritage at www.dictionary.com:

1. The capacity to do work or cause physical change
2. Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
3. Moral strength.
4. A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation.
5. A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.

The “forces” that a leader brings include not only his or her capacity to cause change or affect behavior such that a group is organized for a certain purpose but also self held morality, power and intelligent vigor that are only found in first achieving personally what is necessary to support the followers as they reach the goal.

These are the functions:

1. Guiding Force
2. Authoritative Force
3. Protecting Force
4. Consistent Force
5. Constant Force
6. Humble Force
7. Qualified Force
8. Benevolent Force

As Christian Leaders apply these functions (God given – see the entire Bible – I know, it’s a long read) to the sole Christian Leadership Objective they will be successful…no – that is not true for there is no successful leader but rather leaders and not-leaders. Upcoming articles will discuss the details of each of the eight forces of leadership. For now, we need to ask ourselves a simple question, “Are we in general already accomplished personally and do we have the capacity to provide the Big Eight?” If not, we will either lead people astray or not lead them at all.