As a leader, I have discovered that no matter who you are, where you are, or what you are doing - you are leading.
As a Christian leader, I find that the rules for leadership are very different than those you see in the world.
For example. Integrity is a big deal for Christian leaders. I know that many of you might be thinking, "Well, there are not that many out there." You would be wrong. For every bad leader who gets the attention of the press, there are a thousand (my estimate, and I think that it is low) who will not bow their knee to compromise. What kind of press do they get for doing it right? None.
Don't let media shape your perception of leaders. There are great leaders out there who no one notices.
You might be one of them.
With that in mind, I had this thought. People who make decisions based on their feelings need micromanagement. Critical thinkers can be led. The sentence looked good on paper, but I had to dig this one out a bit.
Feeling isn't bad, even though my sentence makes it look really bad.
What I am talking about are those who are
Emotion-Driven
They make decisions based on how they feel in the moment.
"I don't feel like doing this."
"I don't feel motivated."
"I don't feel it's worth it."
The challenge is their commitment rises and falls with their emotions.
Preference-Driven
They evaluate everything through personal likes and dislikes.
"That's not how I would do it."
"I don't enjoy that."
"That's not my thing."
The challenge is they often confuse preference with principle.
Comfort-Driven
They avoid sacrifice, difficulty, inconvenience, or discomfort.
"This is too hard."
"This takes too much time."
"This asks too much of me."
The challenge is growth requires discomfort, but they resist it.
Consumer-Minded
This is a term many church leaders use.
"What's in it for me?"
"Am I getting enough out of this?"
"Do I enjoy this?"
The challenge is they approach ministry as customers rather than owners.
Reactive Thinkers
They react emotionally before evaluating rationally.
The challenge is spending too much time managing reactions rather than discussing solutions.
What is the real issue here?
Mature followers vs Immature followers
Mature followers are:
- Led by conviction
- Thinking long-term
- Accepting sacrifice
- Owning the mission
- Asking, "What needs to be done?"
- Remaining committed when motivation is low
- Making decisions based on values and principles
- Focusing on responsibility before personal preference
- Usually led through vision and purpose
Immature followers are:
- Led by feelings
- Thinking short-term
- Avoiding sacrifice
- Evaluating the mission based on personal benefit
- Asking, "How do I feel about this?"
- Rising and falling with emotions
- Making decisions based on comfort and preference
- Focusing on personal wants before responsibility
- Requiring more management, accountability, and follow-up
Conviction-driven people can be led. Feeling-driven people often have to be managed. So my original idea wasn't that far off.
The Apostle Paul is a great example. He repeatedly did things he almost certainly did not feel like doing—suffering, imprisonment, rejection, hardship—but he was driven by calling and conviction rather than emotion (see 2 Corinthians 11:23–28).
So think of it this way:
"Thinkers ask, 'Does this make sense?'
Conviction-driven people ask, 'Is this right?'
Feeling-driven people ask, 'Do I feel like it?'"
From a leadership standpoint, the third group generally requires the most coaching, accountability, reminders, and follow-up because their level of engagement fluctuates with their emotions rather than with commitment to the mission.
The question now becomes, which one are you?
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