It seems that almost every leader has their list of what they think are the important – or essential – qualities of an effective leader. I guess I’m no different. But this list doesn’t come from me.
This weekend I was reading an article by Robert Clinton entitled, “Boundary Processing.” In it, he mentioned these 7 qualities of effective leaders. Here is his list:
- Effective leaders maintain a learning posture throughout life.
- Effective leaders value spiritual authority as a primary power base.
- Effective leaders recognize leadership selection and development as a priority function.
- Effective leaders who are productive over a lifetime have a dynamic ministry philosophy.
- Effective leaders evince a growing awareness of their sense of destiny.
- Effective leaders increasingly perceive present ministry in terms of a lifetime perspective.
- Effective leaders perceive relational empowerment as important in their own and their followers lives.
Any thoughts? Is there a quality that you think should be on this list?
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Please define “relational empowerment.”
Robert Clinton writes a lot about what he calls, “social base.” I think by relational empowerment, he is talking about leaders having the social base to give them the support needed to lead. Social base refers to all the resources like friends and family that can know the leader and support the leader emotionally. That would be my best guess.
Great article Kevin! Clinton’s book, Making of a Leader is a book that I have read and re-read multiple times since there are few books that I have found are better at developing a training program for myself and my employees.
My only addition would be that effective leaders know how to serve. The “servant leadership” push is often a cheesy punchline but the practical living out of a posture to learn (as in your point #1). Learning under you and other men over the years, I continue to find that those who are willing to put the goals and the interests of others before themselves will learn to lead people without taking advantage of them and will be able to keep a sane estimate of themselves even when the positions and the influence grow. Leadership flows out of our character of who we are inside us, most often demonstrated by the choices that we make.
Thanks for the summary of the book. What else have you been reading in the last year?
I appreciate your words, Jeff. Excellent points.
I need to keep a better list of what all I read, because when someone asks me, my mind always goes blank. A couple of books you might check out, even though I disagree with some aspects of each:
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership – Ruth Haley Barton
Renovation of the Heart – Dallas Willard