21st Century Leaders

In leadeship development circles there has been a great deal written about "Transactional versus Transformational Leadership." Is the movement to "transformational leadership" simply a cultural trend from modern to postmodern leadership or is this the leadership style that will be most effective in the 21st century? Another question, "Is there something lacking in the 'win-win' leadership strategies that misses the heart of God for people in relationship?" The next question then is, "How can I become a transformational leader?"

That has lead me to think of a three dimensional model of leadership. The two dimensions of leadership I was taught by Howard Hendricks was that a leader knew where he or she was going and could persuade others to follow. These two elements are related to having a clear purpose and then the power to move a growing number of people toward that purpose. Now I believe the unstated element that was always in the background now needs to be in the foreground. The third dimension is "presence." We have always discussed the character qualities of leaders but what about the way in which all of those qualities blend and are being used in light of the spiritual and emmotional health of the leader? What presence do we bring? Perhaps this is at the heart of the question about "vulnerablity and humility" in mission. Not simply changing our tactics in mission and restating our purpose but to bring the presence of the one we follow, the one who washed the feet of his disciples, the one who poured out his life so that we might live.

I have become more and more convinced that as leaders we need to be developing our sense of "self awareness," so that we always anticipate our "presence" as we move into different contexts of ministry. Secondly then we need to know how our "presence" contributes to our understanding of our purpose and any given time and place and to how our "presence" affects our "power" to influence, direct or manage those who we serve.