What makes transformational leadership? What makes the difference between simply leading an organization effectively and leading in a way that transforms you from the inside out– impacting both how you lead and who you are?
There are many, many different components of leadership: casting vision, leading teams, developing new leaders, leading change, communication skills, strategic skills. But what we want to talk about here is the kind of leadership that transforms the leader because of his or her connection with God. This kind of transformational leadership requires deep connection to God, seeing the big picture and the ultimate mission, understanding your own essential place in that story, fulfilling your God-given purpose and growing as you’re serving.
Transformational leadership requires deep connection to God, seeing the big picture and the ultimate mission, understanding your own essential place in that story, fulfilling your God-given purpose and growing as you're serving. Click To TweetDriven by Purpose
Remember the story of the men in the middle ages laying the foundation of a cathedral? If you ask one man what he is doing, he may say, “I am laying bricks.” If you ask the other man what he is doing, he may say, “I am building a cathedral.” It’s a matter of perspective, along with the awareness of something bigger than himself. The cathedral itself will not be finished for another couple of generations, but he knows he is making an essential contribution.
2 Aspects of Transformational Leadership
To implement truly transformational leadership within your own ministry context, you need to focus on both people development and organizational development.
To implement truly transformational leadership within your own ministry context, you need to focus on both people development and organizational development. Click To TweetPeople Development
It’s not a matter of whether people are participating in a program or filling slots. It’s a matter of whether you are helping them grasp how they are making a difference in the bigger picture through their service. I once enlisted a man in my congregation to do historical research that enhanced my sermons. Not only did he love doing it, he saw how he was contributing to the advance of God’s Kingdom.
Organizational Development
Everything worth doing contributes to the overall success of the ministry. Help people see their contribution and the difference they make. And help them to grow in their own giftedness and spiritual formation as they serve. Serving and spiritual growth go together.
That’s transformational leadership: aligning with what God is doing both in the bigger Kingdom picture and in the individual lives of those serving.
Resources
The Leadership Difference– If you are running up against barriers that aren’t specifically theological but are more about how to lead people and get along with them as you work together, The Leadership Difference is for you. Whether you are leading a church, a team, or a small group, gaining the skills and strategies found in this book will result in lightening your own load, developing the skills of others, and getting the job done effectively.
Leadership Skills Guides– Need leaders? Wondering how to develop people to live into their full potential and calling? This comprehensive set of Leadership Skills Guides covers 37 essential leadership skills. Each guide includes a written introduction, teaching points, scripture passages, reflection and discussion questions.
Upcoming Fuller DMin: Leading for Healthy Growth
This Doctor of Ministry cohort at Fuller Seminary is focused on a vision for healthy growth. It has been designed for pastors who are leading existing churches and for planters who are starting new churches.
Especially during these challenging times, it’s important that we zero in on the essentials. The program focuses on missional discipleship, transformational leadership, and fruitful ministry.
Together, these components create a simple ministry flow that results in healthy ministry growth, flourishing churches, and communities reached with the gospel. We’ve put together a cohort that helps you live into each of these areas in turn.
If you’d like more information on the cohort, you can find it here.
Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash