When thinking of influence as a spiritual leader, it may be prudent to start with where not to look. In my studying this morning the title of the lesson is: “Illegitimate Sources of Influence”. I am pleased with myself as I immediately thought of more legitimate sources and what those would be. But, I had to bring myself back to the places not to look for the purpose of the validity of my study this morning. According to Henry and Richard Blackaby, the illegitimate sources are; position, power, and personality, and I could not agree more.
When I think about the three illegitimate sources of influence listed by the Blackabys, I see places of very shallow. Two of those can be take away from someone by another person or entity, and personality can be faked to cover some reality in one’s life. Position and power rely more heavily on a fear component to implore others to follow. And when the position or power are gone, there is no other way to get others to do what you would want done.
A question asked by the Blackabys; Whom in your life do you regularly have opportunity to influence? It was not hard for me to make the connection. Those who attend training classes where I am leading. Tom Landry is quoted as saying; “The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be.” Now, I am not Tom Landry, but I do believe that I can substitute “trainer” for football coach and “others” for men in the quote and it fits pretty nicely. So as a trainer, I have the opportunity to influence others regularly.
Thinking of the role of trainer, I could use power, position, and/or personality to get others to do the work needing to accomplish. But when I think about it, I am only getting them to do things while I am watching and directing. By using those “illegitimate sources” of influence, I am dealing more in coercion as opposed to influence and the others will simply fall into their own ways once I am no longer around and driving them. So, as I noted above, once the source of influence is gone, the influence itself goes away.
Spiritual leadership depends on the guidance and work of the Holy Spirit to achieve the goal of God’s agenda. The power, position, and personality are His, not mine. I take direction from Him to achieve His goals and not my own. His power, position, and personality will not go away. And as they will not go away, they will continue to provide long after I have gone. My leadership comes from the legitimate source of God.
Where are you seeking your influence? Are you looking to your power, position, and/or personality to influence others? What about when they are gone, what if you were to get your influence from God as He will be here always?
Trevor's Thoughts 