A Guiding Force - The Big 8

There are eight functions of the leader [see “Successful Leaders" and "Eight Forces of Leadership"]. The Christian leader needs to be asking himself or herself, “ Am I general, already accomplished personally and do I have the capacity to provide the Big Eight?” If not, we will either lead people astray or not lead them at all. To that end, it benefits us all to review the Big Eight. They are:

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

We called them forces because leaders are supposed to affect those around them, and that power to affect, to cause change in the physical, the mind or behavior is defined as “a force.” The word force also is defined as “moral strength” which is the leading requirement of a Christian Leader (or any leader wishing to do it right and do good).

Finally, and very importantly, “force” is defined as “a body of persons or resources organized or available for a certain purpose.” These eight forces combined with the “force” of a leader create “a force of resources” focused on leadership of people.

Guiding force was seen [see original article and based on the definition of leader from Dictionary.com, ] as “The pipe is designed to carry fluid thus it performs the function not only of leading the fluid (guiding force) but also contains and containing the fluid (authoritative force)."

Guiding force is not the same as forced guiding. The Book of First Peter contains wise advice to the church leader when Peter teaches leaders to lead by example, humbly and to take followers where they have already been as leaders. Guiding implies characteristics such as gentle, calm, knowing, intelligent, capable, wise, and respected.

If the pipe example is used, the pipe is already laid where the fluid will go. It leads the fluid to the end destination by being there already. The pipe does not push the fluid nor does it put the fluid in the pipe. It has a simple and humble function that guides the fluid to the predetermined destination. In that simple word, “predetermined”, each leader should find a source of humility and understanding. The wisest man whoever lived is proclaimed to be Solomon, and it is he who rightly stated, “There is nothing new under the sun.” For those who believe in God, he said, “Did you hang the moon and the stars?” Leaders should be very aware (this should be their first piece of wisdom!) that they are simply picking up the task where the last leader left off.

Who laid the pipe that guides the fluid? Who picked the destination? In the Christian realm the answer is very easy – God (perhaps I should say, the answer should be God). Wise leaders know that they are to be a guiding force. They are to guide with grace and class. “A little this way..”, “Have you tried this…”, “How would you solve this…”, and “What would be a wise choice at this juncture…” should typify the idea of guiding.

Don’t get it wrong! Guiding is not diplomacy or politics. Politicking is empty words that try to lead someone down a primrose path by getting them to agree to successive points without knowing the destination. Politicking is attempting to get people to go with you to a destination that you desire even though they may not want to. Politicking is smoozing people, and God doesn’t need it.  Guiding hides neither the end destination nor the truth. Guiding says, “The destination is good. I have been there.  Others have been there.  See the result. See what we can do. Here is how to get there.”

Leaders as a guiding force must have been there or attained the goal. Leaders must know the path or still be consistent in the practice of the goal. Leaders must guide with grace and class. Most importantly, every step of the way the leader must go with the follower leading him in strength and with unwavering direction. The leader is no leader if he does not go with his people arriving with them at the end destination. You cannot guide from afar. The CEO does not guide the worker. No – the successful CEO guides the SVP, who if successful guides the VP, who if successful guides the manager, who if successful … and so on. Do not be fooled – one can teach on a website blog, but one cannot guide. Guiding is an intimate and personal action. It takes time, sacrifice, patience, grace and interaction. It requires that the leader has gone to and now goes to the destination with the follower.

Just check Jesus – the Son of God – who came to earth to lead men and then when he left was followed by the Holy Spirit who is to this day our guide on earth.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”

Jesus as quoted in the book of John 16:13 NLT