The Language of Leadership Influence
Photo by Koen Emmers on Unsplash
Every leader possesses two types of authority. Both are legitimate and necessary. But one is way more impactful than the other. The first is titled authority. This type of authority derives from your role or position in the organization. It's your power to command, decide, and govern. The second type of authority is granted authority. Granted authority derives from the permission people give you to influence them from the foundation of a well-lived leadership life. The first one is immediate in its ability to be efficacious. The second one is earned over time through consistent virtuous behaviors.
Ultimately, the second type of authority is what leaders are remembered for and what builds a legacy. Both kinds of authority have influence. Influence is the power or capacity to cause a desired effect through tangible and intangible ways.
Recently, I have been ruminating on what the Bible says about influence. What is the language of influence in the Old and New Testaments? Below are seven suggested biblical principles of leadership influence. I am certainly still in the process on this topic, but consider these seven as a starting point for your own daily practice of leadership—and see what happens.
Be tasty. (Matthew 5:13) In the sermon on the mount, Jesus told the crowd, "You are the salt of the earth." We know that salt acts as a preservative, but this passage emphasizes its tastiness. If you will, we are to be tasty leaders. When something is tasty, it is marked by its appeal, attractiveness, interest, and enjoyment. Does your overall leadership persona reflect these traits? Or do people obey you out of fear and retribution? Do you attract or repel? There is a more significant and longer-lasting influence of being tasteful than tasteless.
Be a luminary. (Matthew 5:14-16) In this same sermon, Jesus tells the crowd, "You are the world's light." Light, as referred to in this passage, is designed to be visible, shine, and give glory. Ultimately, this kind of light is revealed through our good works towards others, with our motive to glorify God. Practically, this means we can shine a light on others--what they are doing well, what they are accomplishing for the sake of the organization and others, etc. This provides an opportunity to shine a light on God by revealing our inherent motivations for the good intentions of our leadership. Lasting leadership influence remains visible and glorifies God by shining a light on others and doing good works.
Exemplify love. (Matthew 22:37-39) Later in the book of Matthew, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the preeminent commandment in the Mosaic Law is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind." He says, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." We are to love God, others, and ourselves. The book of 1 John lays out a practical definition of love when you combine 3:16 with 4:9. Love shows up and sacrifices. Lasting leadership influence shows up and sacrifices for the sake of others from a foundation of loving God, others, and self.
Apprentice others. (Matthew 28:18-20) We have already referenced the Great Commandment. This passage is often labeled the Great Commission. We are commanded to "make disciples." In our modern approach, we usually think of leading others through a biblical curriculum. But discipleship is not even originally a Christian word. It is the language of apprenticeship and was common among the trades of the ancient world. Apprenticeship is a teach, show, and do approach. The first job of every leader is to raise up more leaders. You will primarily do this by getting close to rising and emerging leaders and discipling them. Teach them the way. Show them the way; allow them to do the way. Always be about leadership succession. Lasting leadership influence leaves qualified leaders in their wake.
Act with reciprocity. (Matthew 7:12) Let's return to the sermon on the mount. Jesus tells the crowd, "So whatever you wish others would do, do also to them." This is an often overlooked form of significant leadership influence. If we treated those around us and under us as we would like to be treated, we would have very few organizational culture problems. Reciprocity is the mutual exchange of dependence, actions, and privileges. Like begets like. This focus informs the following two forms of leadership influence.
Practice humility. (Philippians 2:3) Here, we turn to the Apostle Paul. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul states, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Insecure leaders fall into the trap of rivalry and conceit. Grounded leaders are free to count others as more significant. This doesn't mean that someone else is more important because they are more talented or productive--or that you should play favorites. It means you choose to esteem them more important as a choice of attributing meaning and inherent worth. It is not a form of diminishing yourself. It is a matter of elevating others from your secure position in Christ. Lasting leadership influence arises when those under and around you know they are seen, belong, have a contribution to make, and maintain a sense of their daily worth to you and the organization.
Be an example. (Matthew 5:19) Finally, we return to the sermon on the mount. This extended message from the lips of Jesus is an excellent primer on living life with a kingdom of God viewpoint. In this verse, Jesus encourages us that if we want to be great in his kingdom, we must teach and do what he commands. We are to be examples and not merely talkers. This means we do what we say we will do as leaders. We will exemplify what we are asking others to do as well. Lasting leadership influence flows from what we see leaders do--not just what they espouse through their words. May it be true of us, too.
All of the practices above flow from our ongoing union with Christ and daily pursuit of him. We must continue to live a leadership life of surrender to Jesus' Lordship and cultivate intimacy with him to draw upon his grace and lead with true discernment.
There you have it. These are my first thoughts on what the Bible says regarding good influence. Let's keep thinking and practicing together.
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