澄清關於領導的混亂觀念
By Jim Mathis
最近無論是在職場、政治、文化、運動甚至是家裡，領導都是一個熱門的話題。很多人對領袖的位置汲汲營營，但是當我們客觀地觀看這個世界，卻發現有很多令人感到困惑的觀念，一個真正的領袖或者是真正符合資格的領袖其實很少。
到底甚麼才是真正的領導力？我聽過最好的解釋是：影響力。如果你能影響到某個人，你就是一個領袖。或許你是爸媽，你能影響你的小孩，又或許你是一個老師，你能影響自己的學生，又或者你是一個企業主，你能影響自己的員工。能夠影響別人的能力就叫做領導力。
提到領導力的時候，很多人常常會聯想到一個職位，例如一個老闆或是執行長。事實上，領導力是來自於你所領導的人長期的尊敬、好的判斷力以及願意跟隨的心。無論你的職稱是甚麼，如果你的下屬不尊敬你，或是不想被你影響，你也不能成為他們的領袖。
所以我們要如何知道一個好的領袖需要具備甚麼特徵？有效的領導又需要甚麼特質呢？使徒保羅在加拉太書5章22-23節列出九種特質他稱為聖靈果子，這對一個基督徒是必要的，對基督徒領袖也是。「聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制。」 (加拉太書 5章22節)。這些都是領袖必須具備的特質。
對領袖來說，愛包含了熱情、同理的能力以及願意去了解別人的生命故事。我的朋友JOY這個人因為正面積極而著稱，他也是一個願意去鼓勵人的人。領袖是使人和好的人，他們致力於用正面的方式去解決問題和安慰人。父母使人和好，讓孩子彼此能相處。企業的領袖則是在職場上解決衝突，以及鼓勵友善的競爭而非對他們的競爭對手感到苦毒。領袖要有耐心，他們不會妄下結論或是太快下決定。
一個和善的領袖才能有影響力。若是我們想要正面影響別人，和善和溫和的特質在任何關係當中都是必要的。正直和純全是相似的，表現出誠實、可靠和一致。最後，我們要有自制力。如果我們沒有辦法控制負面的習慣或是有任何其他無法自我控制的壞習慣，就會減低我們對其他人的影響力。
無論我們知道或不知道，我們所有的人都坐在某一種領導的位置上。其他人正在觀察或是模仿我們的行為，或者是口頭上尋求我們的理解或是洞見，尋求我們的引導。
加拉太書所列出來的聖靈的九種果子，給了我們一些成為好領袖的參考。若是我們夠聰明，不僅僅我們自己要把九種果子行出來，在考慮和選擇領袖的時候，我們也會參考這樣的標準。最後，我們不但可以藉由耶穌基督的力量，也能用自己的力量在日常生活中活出聖靈的九種果子。
吉姆.馬提斯在堪薩斯州陸路公園市經營一家照相館。他的專長是商業和影劇界人像。他也經營一所攝影學校。他曾是一家咖啡店的經理，也曾是CBMC在堪薩斯州堪薩斯市和密蘇里州堪薩斯市的執行主任。
反省與問題討論
你會如何定義領導能力？或者你覺得甚麼特質的人能夠成為一個好的領袖？ 總的來說，對你個人、職場或是你的社區而言，或從媒體看到的資訊，你觀察到的領袖特質或才幹，有哪些？ 你對於聖經當中所提到聖靈的九種果子應該是領袖的九種特質，這個看法有甚麼意見？ 你覺得文章中提到的領袖特質，對你個人而言，哪一個是最重要的？
備註: 如果你手上有聖經，希望知道更多關於這個主題的經文請參考:
箴言 20章28節 王因仁慈和誠實得以保全他的國位，也因仁慈立穩。
箴言 22章4節 敬畏耶和華心存謙卑，就得富有、尊榮、生命為賞賜。
箴言 27章23-27節
27:23 你要詳細知道你羊群的景況，留心料理你的牛群；24 因為資財不能永有，冠冕豈能存到萬代？25 乾草割去，嫩草發現，山上的菜蔬也被收斂。26 羊羔之毛是為你作衣服；山羊是為作田地的價值，27 並有母山羊奶夠你吃，也夠你的家眷吃，且夠養你的婢女。
箴言 28章2節 邦國因有罪過，君王就多更換；因有聰明知識的人，國必長存。
馬可福音10章45節 因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。
約翰福音10章1-16節
10:1 「我實實在在地告訴你們，人進羊圈，不從門進去，倒從別處爬進去，那人就是賊，就是強盜。
10:2 從門進去的，才是羊的牧人。
10:3 看門的就給他開門；羊也聽他的聲音。他按著名叫自己的羊，把羊領出來。
10:4 既放出自己的羊來，就在前頭走，羊也跟著他，因為認得他的聲音。
10:5 羊不跟著生人；因為不認得他的聲音，必要逃跑。」
10:6 耶穌將這比喻告訴他們，但他們不明白所說的是甚麼意思。
10:7 所以，耶穌又對他們說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，我就是羊的門。
10:8 凡在我以先來的都是賊，是強盜；羊卻不聽他們。
10:9 我就是門；凡從我進來的，必然得救，並且出入得草吃。
10:10 盜賊來，無非要偷竊，殺害，毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊（或譯：人）得生命，並且得的更豐盛。
10:11 我是好牧人；好牧人為羊捨命。
10:12 若是雇工，不是牧人，羊也不是他自己的，他看見狼來，就撇下羊逃走；狼抓住羊，趕散了羊群。
10:13 雇工逃走，因他是雇工，並不顧念羊。
10:14 我是好牧人；我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我，
10:15 正如父認識我，我也認識父一樣；並且我為羊捨命。
10:16 我另外有羊，不是這圈裏的；我必須領他們來，他們也要聽我的聲音，並且要合成一群，歸一個牧人了。
哥林多前書 13章13節 如今常存的有信，有望，有愛這三樣，其中最大的是愛。
CLARIFYING THE CONFUSION OVER LEADERSHIP
by Jim Mathis
An intriguing discussion topic these days is leadership, whether within the context of the marketplace, politics, the culture, sports, even the home. Many people seem eager to attain positions of leadership, but sometimes when we take an objective look at our world, it seems there is either a lot of confusion about what it takes to be a true leader, or a serious shortage of quality leaders.
What exactly is leadership? The best definition of leadership I have heard is one word: Influence. If you have influence over somebody, you are a leader. It may be as a parent with influence over children; a teacher with influence over students; or a business person that influences employees or customers. The ability we have for exerting that influence is called leadership.
We often think of leadership in terms of a position, such as a boss, CEO, or president. In reality, leadership has to be earned through respect, a history of good judgment, and the willingness of those you are assigned to lead to follow you. No matter what your title may be, if those under you do not respect you, or do not have a desire to be influenced by you, you will not be their leader.
So how do we know what it requires to be a good leader? What are the traits necessary for effective leadership? The apostle Paul, in Galatians 5:22-23, lists what he calls the fruit of the Spirit which are available to any follower of the greatest leader of all, Jesus Christ. These qualities also happen to be the characteristics of a good leader: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Let”s take a look at each of these, within the context of leadership.
For the leader, “love” involves compassion, understanding, and seeking to know the other person”s story. Joy makes itself known through a positive attitude, being an encourager. Leaders are peacemakers. They work to resolve and smooth over conflict in productive ways. Parents show peacemaking skills when they help their children get along with one another. Business leaders strive to keep the workplace free of conflict and encourage friendly competition, not bitterness, with their competitors. Leaders also are patient; they do not jump to hasty conclusions or make rash statements.
True leaders cannot be influential without being kind. Kindness and gentleness are essential ingredients for any relationship where we want to influence somebody”s behavior in meaningful ways. Faithfulness is similar to integrity, displaying honesty, reliability and consistency. Finally, we have self-control. If we cannot control our own negative habits, we will not be able to effectively influence others. Overeating, overdrinking, foul and abusive language, or any other bad habits that show lack of self-control, minimize a person”s ability to lead.
All of us are in some position of leadership, whether we know it or not. Somebody is looking to each of us for guidance, whether by observing and copying our actions, or by verbally asking for some understanding or insight from us.
This list of qualities outlined in Galatians, the fruit of God”s Spirit, is instructive. We would be wise not only to learn and live them ourselves, but also to use them as a guide for considering and choosing what leaders we will follow. Ultimately, we can seek to demonstrate these traits by our own effort, but only through the power of Jesus Christ can they be fully manifested in our lives.
Jim Mathis is the owner of a photography studio in Overland Park, Kansas, specializing in executive, commercial and theatrical portraits, and operates a school of photography. Jim is the author of High Performance Cameras for Ordinary People, a book on digital photography. He formerly was a coffee shop manager and executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
How would you define “leadership”? Or what it requires to be a good leader? From an overall perspective, what is your opinion of the quality and caliber of leadership you have observed – both in person, at work and in your community, as well as what you see presented through the mass media? What do you think of the suggestion about following the biblical listing of “the fruit of the Spirit” as a guide for effective leadership? Which of the items included on that list seem most important for effective leadership, from your point of view?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Proverbs 20:28, 22:4, 27:23-27, 28:2; Mark 10:45; John 10:1-16; 1 Corinthians 13:13
