The world is filled with followers, supervisors and managers but very few leaders. Leadership is like beauty, it is hard to define but you know it when you see it. Most leaders had no ambition to become great or renowned. In fact, most of the individuals who have greatly affected mankind were simple people who were victims of circumstances that demanded the hidden qualities of their character, or they were driven by a personal passionate goal.

Leaders are ordinary people who accept or are placed under extraordinary circumstances that bring forth their latent potential, producing a character that inspires the confidence and trust of others.

The world is lacking quality leaders today, how can we say that, just take a look people are falling in every arena in this country including Christians. Corruption and unethical activities among political leaders and their covert conspiracies of governments betraying their own people is evidence enough

There is potential for leadership in everyone. The time is right for leaders to surface. Historically, we find that during periods when moral, social, economic, spiritual and political chaos gripped a nation, the greatest leaders in the world surfaced.

Our homes are crying out for leadership. Our youth are begging for leaders. The essence of leadership is the exercise of influence for a common cause. For instance, the command given to the Christian church by Christ is, "Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them the things I have taught you." This is a direct mandate to provide leadership for nations, instructing them to live according to the principles of the kingdom of God.

Becoming a leader isn’t easy, just as becoming a doctor or poet isn’t easy, and anyone who claims otherwise is fooling himself.

We cannot function without leaders. Our quality of life depends on the quality of our leaders.

Great leaders never desire to lead but to serve

Leadership is the ability to lead others by influence. Leaders respond to responsibility.

Leadership has very little to do with what you do and is fundamentally a matter of becoming who you are. Developing character and vision is the way leaders are made. Leaders are not gifts but results. Learning to lead is a lot easier than most of us think it is, because each of us has the capacity for leadership. Leaders are simply people who dare to be themselves and are able to express themselves fully. They also know what they want, why they want it and how to communicate what they want to others. They know how to achieve their goals.

A leader does not set out to be a leader but rather to maximize himself fully and freely. True leaders have no interest in themselves or vying for a position, but an abiding interest in expressing themselves. The leader within you come alive when you discover the purpose and vision for your life, and set out to fulfill it without compromise.

Good Leadership is indispensable.

Dominating - God did not give man the authority to dominate one another. This is why whenever the human spirit is dominated by another human, whether it is by a governing system or forced labor, there is a natural, inevitable desire and will to throw off this unnatural restraint. Special Note: Know your own character, I do not work well under a leader who attempts to dominate and control all movements and actions. In the past when I have been in this environment, the minimum was given, when allowed to flow, the maximum was given through desire. God created man to lead, we were designed to be subjected only to His Spirit which would rule in our hearts. Each man is a leader created to be led by the Spirit of God! No one is to lord over another or dominate the other’s abilities and potential to maximize himself. Sin (Genesis 3:16-19 changed all of this, now we have the subjection of man over man and the earth over man.

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

Leadership is first being, then doing. It is the ability to inspire others to become and fulfill themselves by you doing the same.

There is a difference between leadership and the leader. The leader is the designated position and the individual assuming the position, accepting the responsibility and accountability that accompany the designated position. Leadership, on the other hand, is the function of the designated position and the exercise of the responsibilities involved in the position.

A TITLE AND POSITION DO NOT GUARANTEE PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY.

Leadership is the organizing and coordinating of resources, energies and relationships in a productive context for an intended result. In its simplest form, leadership is the managing of managers toward a common goal. Therefore, leadership by its very nature incorporates a clear purpose and vision which provide the fuel for inspiration, motivation and mobilization. The vision or guiding purpose is the source from which leadership derives its magnetic field to activate the commitment, corporation and confidence of others. Leadership derives its power from values, deep convictions and correct principles. Leadership is the highest prospect of management.

Leadership consists basically of two components: (1) vision and values; (2) the ability to inspire and motivate others to work together with a common purpose. Another ingredient would be the ability to draw the best out of others maximizing their potential.

Good leaders employ others, great leaders deploy themselves and others.

We were born to lead, but we must become leaders. Simply put, a leader is one who leads others to leadership. Subordinates who are not followers may be viewed as a resource to be managed, rather than followers to be led. The leader will first lead himself and by so doing inspire others to follow him into leadership. A leader influences others to follow after him to a cause or purpose. Leaders are not born, but made.

On Purpose - The foundational key to becoming a leader is the discovering and capturing of a sense of purpose for your life. Purpose is the original intent, a reason for the creation or existence of a thing.

On Passion - This is a deep controlling desire that makes the leader’s commitment to the purpose assured.

On Integrity - The leader never lies to himself especially about himself. He knows his flaws and his assets, and deals with them directly. Therefore, self knowledge is a requirement and candor is the key to this self knowledge.

On Trust - Integrity is the basis of trust which is a product of leadership. It is the one quality that cannot be acquired; t must be earned. Co-workers or subordinates give it. The leader’s character must be tested, proven and established as being faithful and trustworthy. Trustworthiness is a product of character and competence, that is who you are and what you can co. Trustworthiness is the foundation of trust and trust must be earned.

On Curiosity and Daring - Life is an adventure, the leader must be willing to explore and challenge traditions, experiment with new ideas and take risks.

Leaders should be more concerned with expressing themselves. They make things happen. There are four types of people in the world:

1. Those who watch things happen

2. Those who let things happen

3. Those who ask what happen

4. Those who make things happen

Listed below is a quick comparison of a manager and a leader

Leaders are individuals who have declared independence from the expectation of others.

A leaders is one who deploys himself and by so doing, inspires others to do the same

True leaders do not try to be; they just are.

Self tests to determine if you have leadership material

Are you willing to serve?

Are you willing to be patient?

Are you available? Are you prepared for the cost of being available?

The greatest display of leadership is SERVICE

Keys to True Leadership

• Authority does not make you a leader; it gives you the opportunity to be one.
• True leadership is not something that you grasp, it is something that you become.
• As a leader, you cannot drive people, you must lead them
• Real promotion comes from personal growth, preparation and experience
• Leaders don’t draw attention to themselves
• You can only lead someone as far as you have gone yourself
• Only god gives spiritual authority
• Be faithful over a little and you will rule over much
• A leader must live every word he speaks
• Leaders must be servants.

Genuine leadership is a marriage of the natural and spiritual qualities producing a well-integrated character.

Here are some differences between the two:

True leadership:

Make friends before making converts

Attract people with a spirit of acceptance, withholding judgments, creating their self value

Unconditionally accept and cherish the value of others (cannot be prejudiced)

Treats everyone the same

Recognizes that all need love and respect

Must be self-confident, not easily intimidated, must have a deep sense of security and identity, loves confident people and approachable. The attitude must be cheerful, pleasant, happy, optimistic and upbeat and must not seek the pleasure/acceptance of men. The true leader must have a steady will. Here are some key principles:

The perfect balance of competence, vision and virtue

Inspiration as the source, confidence as the life and trust and the fuel

Above reproach

Commands respect even from his enemies

Private life must balance with public life

Have wisdom

Be gentle

Manage his family well

Not motivated by or greedy for money

Spend the time to qualify

The Price of Leadership:

Personal Sacrifice

Rejection

Criticism

Loneliness

Pressure and Perplexity

Mental and physical fatigue

Price paid by others