I recently had a chance to give a seminar to the pastoral council of Nkoroi Catholic Parish. This is a synopsis of my presentation.
Understanding Leadership:
• A leader is a person who influences people to accomplish a purpose, showing the way by example and creating an environment in which other members feel actively involved in the whole process.
• Leadership is an art or the process of influencing people so that they will strive, willingly and enthusiastically with zeal and confidence towards the achievement of group goals.
• It is the capacity to contribute to positive change.
Leadership Mnemonic (3 Ps)
• Leadership is an interactive relationship with a person, a purpose and a people.
• The person is committed to the purpose
• The person influences the people to achieve the purpose.
• The purpose is the point of focus and not the person (leader).
• Within the Catholic Church, the purpose or point of focus is Christ and the salvation of souls.
Leadership Styles
• Dictatorial/Authoritarian/Commanding: “Do what I tell you!”
• Visionary: “Come with me and I will show you something great!”
• Affiliative: “People come first before rules and projects.”
• Democratic: “I’d love to hear what you think.”
• Pace Setting: “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
• Coaching: “Try this and let me know if you need help.”
• Delegative: “I trust you to do this for and with me with minimal supervision and micromanagement from me but with healthy accountability.”
Effective Leadership
Has been attributed to:
1. Persuasion skills
2. Leadership styles
3. Personal attributes of the leader.
Napoleon Hill’s 10 Major Causes of Leadership Failure
• Inability to organize details.
• Unwillingness to do that which you ask of others.
• Expectation of pay/recognition for what you know rather than what you do.
• Fear of competition
• Lack of imagination
• Selfishness
• Intemperance
• Disloyalty
• Emphasis on the “authority” of leadership
• Emphasis on the title
Leadership Basics
• Compass: The Why – Vision & Purpose
• Concern: The How – Mission, Culture (conflict and reward management), Procedures.
• Context: The Where – Place, What are the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats at Nkoroi Parish?.
• Content: The What – Nourishment
• Capacity: The Who – Human resources, role clarification,
• Clock: The When – Planfulness, commitment, accountability
• Consequence: impact, evaluation.
Leadership Essential Activities
• Planning
• Organizing
• Decision Making
• Influencing
• Communicating
• Evaluating
• Co-ordinating
Attributes people remember most about bad leaders
• Focused only on themselves
• Couldn’t confront
• Waffling & indecisive
• Thrown off by uncertainty & ambiguity
• Perceived as unfair or unethical
• Perfectionists
Biblical Images of the Leadership of Jesus
SERVANT: Service, Support and Empowerment
• Mk 10:45; Lk 22: 24-27; Mt 20: 26-28; Jn 13: 12-17
SHEPHERD: Caring, Courage and Guidance
• Jesus: “I am the good shepherd” (In 10:11); Peter commissioned to shepherd (In 21:15-17); Peter exhorts: Be shepherds (1 Pt 5:2-3)
STEWARD: Trustworthy, Responsible and Accountable
• As one in charge (Lk 12:42-43); Privilege and responsibility; As trustee (1 Cor 4:1); As guardian (2 Tm 1:14); As transmitter of teaching (2 Tm 2:2).
Values of Christian Leadership
• Love (Mk 12:29.31; Lk 6:27.36; Jn 13:34);
• Unity (In 17:11);
• Service (Mt 20:25.28);
• Giving (Mk 12:43-44; Lk 21 :1.4);
• Faith (Mt 14:31; 21:21-22; Mk 11:22.24);
• Joy (In 17:13);
• Prayer (Mt 9:37-38; Lk 11 :2.4.13; 18:4.8);
• Witness (Mt 10:32; Mk 6:7.13).
And Jesus also taught his disciples to be leaders with character:
• Humility (Mt 5:1.7; 11 :29; 18:2.5; Mk 10:14-15; Lk 6:20.24; 18:14.17);
• Inner Strength and Righteousness (Lk 11 :37.53; 12: 15; Jn 10:33);
• Abiding Relationship with Christ (In 15:1.8);
• Set Apart (In 17:16).
Pope Francis’ Criteria for Church Leadership
1. Professionalism: get the knowledge and skills necessary to be a leader within your context and level.
2. Holiness: the Church is not an NGO. Everything we do is about becoming more like Christ.
3. Service: to be welcoming, patient and kind. We are not bosses where Catholics are at the mercy of our direction and guidance.
