HDecisive Biblical Leadership
Decisive Biblical Leadership
ABWE Eastern Europe LEAD Conference
January 15-17, 2003
Jerry Kroll
I. The Need For Leadership
A. The ___________________ of God
B. The condition of the ________________ Matt 9:36; Mark 14:27; John 10:11-14.
C. The need of the ________________________: Matt 9:37-38
II. The Definition of Leadership
A. Negatively: what leadership is not.
Leadership is not:
1. An inherited ________________.
2. Reserved for the ____________________.
3. An official ___________________.
4. A personality trait.
5. Power or control.
B. Positively: what leadership is.
Leadership is:
1. Vision.
2. True ____________________________________.
3. ____________________________________.
4. A ______________________________.
II. The Person of Leadership
A. The leader and his character (characteristics of leadership).
B. The leader and his personality.
1. The Choleric Personality (Doers, Leaders)
Biblical models: Saul, Peter, Paul
Primary desire: To take authority in overcoming all obstacles to accomplish a difficult task (challenges, prestige, freedom, difficult assignments, variety, logical approaches, opportunity for advancement)
Strengths: Results oriented, questions status quo, pragmatic, utilitarian, very independent, problem solver, critical thinker, determined, persistent, confident, organized, logical, endless ideas, opinionated, decisive, manages trouble, risk taker
Weaknesses: Not sympathetic, insensitive, impatient, inflexible, difficulty in trusting God and others, outbursts of anger, will not hesitate to break rules to succeed, difficulty in apologizing or in showing approval
Ideal leadership situation: Challenge, in charge with full authority, making decisions
Least effective leadership situation: Technical projects, mundane or repetitive jobs
How to improve: Be more sensitive to people, listen more, be less authoritarian and more willing to gather the facts
2. The Sanguine Personality (Influencer, Expresser)
Biblical models: John-Mark
Primary desire: To influence others to accomplish results (opportunities to speak, social recognition, popularity, freedom from control and details, acknowledgment)
Strengths: Aggressive, persuasive, optimistic, enthusiastic, seeks out people, motivates others, child-like spirit, articulate and verbal, cheerful, loves to please, makes a good first impression, genuine love for people, life of the party, desires to help others
Weaknesses: Impulsive, too optimistic, talks too much, seen as superficial/egotistical, too emotional, not objective enough, poor time management, needs more initiative, lacks follow-through, many acquaintances, but few close friends
Ideal leadership situation: Generating excitement and motivating others, new, exciting and innovative programs; anything that requires verbal skills
Least effective leadership situation: Working alone, administration of details, discipline of others
How to improve: Slow down, be more realistic and have greater concern for details
3. The Phlegmatic Personality (Relaters, Dependable)
Biblical models: Abraham, Ruth
Primary desire: To relate well with others in accomplishing a task (status quo, time to adjust, appreciation, work patterns, identification with the group, areas of specialization, limited territory)
Strengths: Accurate, calm, loyal, capable, efficient, team player, good listener, focused, warm, patient, predictable, kindhearted, dry sense of humor and natural peacemaker
Weaknesses: Slow, non-initiating, resists change, stubborn, stingy, reluctant to get involved, teases others, indecisive, avoids conflict, internalizes pressure
Ideal leadership situation: Routine tasks, jobs which require following procedures, projects that will help others
Least effective leadership situation: Projects that require quick changes, working on a variety of projects at the same time. Tasks that require major decisions and confronting others
How to improve: Be more self-confident, take more risks, initiate more and be more assertive
4. The Melancholy Personality (Thinkers, Analyst)
Biblical Models: Moses, Solomon, John
Primary Desire: To insure accuracy and quality in the accomplishment of a task (security, no sudden changes, exact job, controlled situation, status quo and personal attention)
Strengths: Detailed, factual, accurate, creative, loyal, sensitive, analytical, aesthetic and enjoys the fine arts
Weaknesses: Pessimistic, easily offended, too detailed, overly cautious, moody, dominated by feelings, arrogant, judgmental, antagonistic, suspicious, pessimistic, faithful friend, but does not make friends easily
Ideal leadership situation: Clearly defined, tasks that require precision, accuracy, critical analysis and limited time frame
Least effective leadership situation: Deadline projects, high risk projects, multiple and sudden change projects
How to improve: Be more direct, more optimistic, more dogmatic, more tolerant, less critical of others and have more confidence in their own judgment.
Why know your Personality?
· To better accept ourselves as God made us
· To better understand and relate to others
· To better understand the importance of the team and our need for others
· To better know how to serve Him
To better know our weaknesses and commit them to the Holy Spirit’s control
C. The leader and his leadership style.
1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________ - Prov. 11:14; 15:22; 24:6
D. The leader and his time.
Basic Facts on time management:
1. We all waste time.
2. We cannot change time.
3. We must accept time as the most important resource of mankind.
4. We cannot increase the quantity of time.
5. We cannot do everything.
6. We can only control time.
7. We must accept the fact that we are all procrastinators.
Keys to successful time management:
1. Set aside _____________________________________.
2. Make a “To Do List.”
3. Set _______________________________.
4. Plan “_________________________________.”
5. Plan for interruptions.
6. Keep a time log.
7. Delegate.
a. Reasons to delegate:
1.) Physical limitations
2.) Interdependence of the body — spiritual gifts
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
b. Reasons we don’t delegate:
1.) Fear of _____________________
2.) The thought that “I can do it better myself”
3.) The thought that “It is quicker to do it myself”
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
c. The delegation process:
1.) Have a delegation attitude.
2.) Set a clear objective.
Define the specific results you want. “The purpose of this task is to ___________________________. And the end result is .”
3.) Select the “delegate.”
4.) Contract the delegatee
5.) Follow-up
a.) Establish a delegation follow-up file, or put the specifics of the intermediate goals and the long range deadline on a delegation calendar.
b.) Maintain regular check-up appointments with the delegatee during the project.
c.) Handle .
( 1.) Ask the delegatee:
- What is the problem?
- What are the alternatives, and the advantages or disadvantages of each?
- What are your recommendations, and why?
( 2.) Make the decision and return the project to the delegatee.
( 3.) Teach the delegatee how to handle the problem.
( 4.) Let the delegatee correct the problem.
( 5.) Be sympathetic to the problem.
( 6.) Support the delegatee.
( 7.) Pass on the credit to the delegatee, and use it as a motivator.
The Number #1 Rule of Delegation is: “Pass on 100% of the
Credit and take 100% of the blame.”
6.) Evaluate
7.) Reward
d. Handle resistance to delegation
Five reasons for resistance to accept delegation:
1.) Overworked
2.) Insufficient Authority
3.) Lack of Recognition
4.) Lack of Information
5.) Boring Task
e. What to delegate:
f. What not to delegate:
g. The levels of delegation:
h. Fulfilling the Great Commission through delegation
IV. The Team For Leadership
A. Characteristics for an effective team
1. A shared ____________________________ - Prov. 18:20
2. Loyalty – Num. 12; 1 Sam. 15:23
3. Productivity – Ex. 17; Eccl 4:9-10; Deut 32:30
4. Compatibility – Deut 31:23
B. Basic interpersonal principles for team building
1. We need others to make us complete – Ex. 3-4.
2. Misunderstandings are natural by-products of people working together – 1 Cor. 12:20-21.
3.Conflicts develop when we insist on our “rights” over the relationship – Acts 15.
4. We must understand the principles of change.
a. You can never change a team member __________________________________.
b. You can only change ____________________________
c. When you change, your team members will change in response to you.
C. Steps in recruiting a team
D. Training a team
V. The Task Of Leadership
A. Strategic planning
1. Define your _________________________
2. Determine your ______________________________
3. Decide your strategy
4. Set specific ___________________
5. Evaluate
B. Decision making: steps in the decision making process
1. ____________________________ the decision
2. Gather the ____________________ - Prov. 18:13
3. Evaluate the ________________________________
4. Test the best alternative to see if it is in accordance with God’s will.
a. God’s Word
b. Wise council
c. Inner peace
5. Decide
6. Make the decision work
7. Change the decision if necessary
C. Conflict Management
1. Confronting someone with a different opinion
a. Gather the ____________________________.
b. Give them the benefit ____________________________________________.
c. If a difference of opinion persists: write down your best-case scenario and your worst-case scenario and three acceptable alternatives.
2. Confronting someone who has made a mistake
a. Use the “_________________________” technique.
b. Discuss the mistake and the contributing factors.
c. Let the person who made the mistake ______________________________.
d. Don’t correct the mistake yourself.
f. Never reprimand in ______________________________.
3. Confronting someone who has fallen into sin
a. The pre-requisites (II Sam 12)
1. Absolute __________________
2. Right _______________________
3. Wise ______________________
4. Fearless _______________________
b. The procedure
1. Pray
2. Prepare
3. Present
4. Pursue
c. The characteristics of genuine repentance
1. An open, complete _________________________________ — Psalm 51:1-4
2. A desire to make a ______________________________ with the sin — Psalm 51:10
3. A broken and humble ______________________________ — Psalm 51:17
4. A willingness to claim God’s forgiveness along with the ____________________________ — Psalm 51:11-12; II Samuel 12:10-24, 24
d. Genuine Forgiveness
Three ways people forgive
1. “I forgive you.” — but _____________________________________.
2. “I can’t forgive you.”
2. “I forgive you.”— and mean it with true forgiveness.
Characteristics of true forgiveness
1. Divine perspective — Matt 18:21-35; Eph 4:31-32
2. Divine commitment — Psalm 103:10-12; Micah 7:19
Distinguish between The attitude and the action
Attitude - Ephesians 4:31-32; Mark 11:23
Action - Luke 17:3-4
4. Confronting someone who has offended you — Matt 18:15-35
a. The sequential steps — Matt 18:15-17
b. The pre-requisite — Forgiveness — Matt 18:21-22
c. The results — Matt 18:19
d. The consequences of failure — Matt 18:32-34
5. Dealing with an unrepentant - 1 Cor. 5:5, 9-11; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Tim. 5:1, 19-20
VI. Dealing with Leadership Problems
A. Failure
B. Difficult People
C. Impossible Demands
D. Family
E. Burnout
F. Attitude
G. Sustaining Vision and Momentum
H. Influence
I. Maintaining Integrity
J. Continued Growth