Qualified Force - The Big 8

From the Discovery of the Eight Forces of Leadership,

“The main shoot of the tree is only the main shoot as long as it is healthy (qualified force)”

This particular word picture works well for the gardener, the farmer and the Christian. The Christian? Jesus Christ – for believers and unbelievers, without question, the greatest leader of all time - lived in a predominantly agrarian society and many of his word pictures, parables and examples were derived from the field, flock or farm. Here is a classic example:

"I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He lops off every branch that doesn't produce. And he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops. He has already tended you by pruning you back for greater strength and usefulness by means of the commands I gave you. Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can't produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me. "Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can't do a thing.

Jesus in the Book of John (15:1-5 The Living Bible)

A leader is not just a leader because of a title, an office or a suit. A leader is not a leader because of the hard hat he owns or the power he claims. A leader must have “qualified force”.

We have already learned that leaders must go before their followers, have made it to the destination to which they now lead people, see further, see farther and have all of the character they desire of others. Qualified force means more than a leader knowing what he is doing in the field. Qualified force is more than simply knowing how to lead people.

Remember how we defined force – 1) the power to affect, to cause change in the physical, the mind or behavior; 2) moral strength; 3) a body of persons or resources organized or available for a certain purpose.

Qualified force is being “ready, willing and able”. At every moment you must be “good to go.” Some would confuse this with Constant Force, but constant force results in the leader being on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Qualified force is being able to provide. Here is an easy Christian example – the pastor who has an affair could continue to be constantly there and guiding people, but he is no longer a qualified force.

Qualified force is the force that derives its ability to affect people and situations from healthiness. Even if the objective of a leader is evil or selfish, he must be healthy (strong, well prepared and able to provide real time, relevant and able to hold up the branches) in the context of his leadership. He must be able to not just say, “See it can be done,” but, “See I am doing it – you can do this with me.”

Because of the qualification (combined with Authoritative Force), the Qualified Leader is able to stop feeding those followers who fail to stay a part of the effort. People respond, “He knows what he is doing whether I fully understand it or not – I have seen him over time and he is qualified to make that decision.” The Qualified Leader is not questioned as he helps to correct, critique and constructively criticize his followers so that they are more productive in the effort. The Qualified Leader is not only ready and willing, but he is able too because he is a qualified force of leadership.

Jack Hayford once said regarding what to do with the leader who fell morally, “Leaders do not serve because they are forgiven but because they are called and qualified. Certainly the church should forgive and love the fallen leaders but his call must be re-evaluated and he must be re-qualified before putting him back into leadership. This is for his good health and the health of the church.”

Being and remaining qualified is a critical piece of the Big 8 Forces of Leadership. All eight of these forces are required for leadership. They are intertwined and essential to each other. Ask yourself this, “Is the orange tree qualified to grow apples?”

Are you qualified?