What is your leadership style? (104-2)

Our society tends to prop up one kind of leader as the prototype we should all model our lives after. Business, and even ministries, have determined that certain personality styles are significantly more effective and look for individuals with those traits when hiring and promoting. Some personality styles may give the illusion of effectiveness but if we revert to the definition of leadership as the “ability to influence others,” individuals with each of the personality styles i.e. dominate, steady, influencing and compliant can serve as extremely effective leaders. Read 2 Kings 4:1-44.

Elisha’s name sounds a lot like his mentor Elijah. Both prophets lived during the same time period in Israel’s history and both struggled against the idolatrous Baal cult. Both Elijah and Elisha were appointed to their leadership position by God, both had great influence and both are viewed by history as significant and very influential leaders in Israel. But Elijah and Elisha were very different in how they carried out their leadership duties.

Elisha relied more on miracles and signs and wonders and demonstrated God’s mercy and love more than his fiery mentor Elijah. In fact, the Bible records that Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah and more wonders than any Old Testament character other than Moses. Even while performing more miracles as part of his leadership, Elisha does not come across nearly as charismatic as Elijah.

Although these two men differed in their methods, they were both effective leaders in their pursuit of the same objective: to turn their people from idolatry and bring them back to a true worship of the one true living God.

In a way the differences between Elijah and Elisha reflect the complex nature of the God they served. Elijah most often proclaimed God’s judgment and wrath, while Elisha most often declared God’s love and grace. Together they provided a human illustration of Romans 11:22, “Consider the kindness and sternness of God…”

God uses leaders of all kinds, those who have dominate personalities like Elijah and the Apostle Paul who led with a firm hand; those who are steady like Abraham who lived by faith and led through that faith component; leaders like David who were very charismatic and led with personality and influence; and those like Moses who were compliant and led through exacting service to specific commands from God (he did not get creative with one dimension of the tabernacle but led the people to complete it to God’s exact standards).

Every leadership style can be effective because God created individuals with that personality. Leaders with every style can become better leaders through developing the God-honoring principles in their style, eliminating the self-centered elements of their style, and appreciating the various styles of other leaders.

What is your leadership style? Can you identify one plus of your leadership style i.e. a steady leader demonstrates the faith to stay with a team even when the going is difficult? Can you identify one negative of your leadership style i.e. a dominate leader can be insensitive to people’s needs just to complete the task?

Your Assignment: Identify a leadership style you need to work harder at appreciating. Jesus, our model leader, used all the various leadership styles; identify an example of Jesus using the leadership style you least appreciate.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”