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by by Laura ChamberlainMost diamond crystals have eight facets, each of them reflecting light and adding brilliance.
Like diamonds, we as Christian leaders are called to reflect the Light and to shine the way for others. And like these rare, precious stones, we as leaders can radiate brilliance from eight facets: vision, integrity, motivation, discipleship, listening, prayer, attitude and servanthood. These eight facets are not universally upheld by every expert as being the most important qualities in leadership - they are simply eight characteristics that I personally value in a leader.
Facet 1: Vision
The very essence of leadership is vision. The greatest motivational principle in the world is this: people do what people see. People don't follow a dream itself. They follow the leader who has that dream and the ability to communicate it effectively. Vision in the beginning will make a leader, but for that vision to grow and demand a following, the leader must take responsibility for it.
One of the characteristics of diamonds is that they have great power to break light up into the colors of the rainbow. You have all seen the sparkle of a diamond in the sun or under a bright light. That sparkle is eye-catching; it grabs your attention. And so it is with us as leaders. When we break up the light of our vision into a colorful rainbow, a preferred picture of the future that can be visualized and understood by our followers, then we have begun the work of a leader - to cast vision. Never underestimate your diamond-like characteristic to bend light and break it up into a colorful picture of what God has shown you for you and your followers.
Facet 2: Integrity
Webster defines integrity as "the quality or state of being complete or undivided." A person with integrity is not guilty of hypocrisy (pretending; lying to others people) or duplicity (lying to ourselves and believing it). People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear - they are an open book.
Diamonds are graded according to four basic qualities: weight, clarity, color and cut. Clarity is simply the quality of being clear. Clarity in diamonds is lessened by flaws - inclusions, small bubbles, cracks and substances that cloud the diamond. A leader with integrity will welcome the cleansing and strengthening work of the Holy Spirit. To learn more on the Holy Spirit's work in your life, read Have You Made the Discovery of the Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life?
Facet 3: Motivation
A good leader has the innate ability to attract, energize and encourage her followers. There are three kinds of people in this world:
1) Those who don't know what's happening
2) Those who watch what's happening
3) Those who make things happen.
Motivators are the movers and shakers of this world; they make things happen.They aren't discouraged by opposition - they expect it and plan for it. They are risk-takers; they fully understand that innovation and new ideas will not necessarily be readily accepted by anyone. In fact, it will be a challenge to pioneer change. But it is their personal enthusiasm and inner strength that will continue to fuel their desire to see change occur, because they have a vision and a dream that they are willing to sacrifice for.
Motivators are not procrastinators and do not put off till tomorrow what can be done today, because they have come to understand that tomorrow might never come.
The energy and enthusiasm of a motivator is used to influence her followers by:
1) Showing them how - When we take on a project, rather than just continuing to talk about it or dream about it, we plan through the details, overcome obstacles along the way and see the project to completion, we motivate our followers to do the same.
2) Delegating - We encourage someone else to perform and excel when we delegate responsibility and authority to them. When we let go of the reins of our authority in order to share that with someone else, we are saying to them, "I believe in you. I know you can do this" (even though the ugly knot of fear is tightening your stomach and making you afraid that they won't do it as well as you). Leaders must remember that they have only come to where they are because someone believed in them and someone gave them an opportunity.
3) Encouraging - Our encouragement for others can be demonstrated in many ways - from our body language and listening ability, to our spoken word and written thanks. It is also lived out by praying for our followers and potential leaders. It reveals our incurable confidence and faith that God will continue to fine tune them and use them as His servants.
Whatever we do, we need to communicate our genuine enthusiasm for individuals. We need to affirm who they are, remind them of their strengths and God-given abilities, remind them that we are all still in process and remind them that although failure is inevitable, it is an invitation to begin again.
Just as iron sharpens iron, so the only way that a diamond can be cut is by another diamond. We have to be willing to intensify interpersonal relationships with our potential leaders in order to motivate them to bloom, to grow, to lead. In the process of cutting another diamond, you will most likely be required to expose your own personal story of struggle, of failures, of weaknesses and how you are overcoming them. Relate to them your victories and celebrations. It's a risk on your part, but a potentially strong motivator for others.
Facet 4: Discipleship
As leaders, one of our greatest privileges, as well as responsibilities, is to train other leaders. If we are truly committed to the vision that is giving purpose to our leadership, then we need to be committed to the ongoing success of that vision by having successors. We multiply our effectiveness as leaders many times over when we mentor potential leaders who share our vision and are committed to seeing it become a reality.
More than that, we have been given a command to "make disciples" by Jesus Himself. Jesus Christ left us a blueprint to follow. He took 12 men - many of them rough and unschooled fishermen - and spent three years with them. During that time, He taught them truth, delved into the explanations of deep convictions versus superficial belief, and then modeled His consecration and commitment to the eternal dimension of life. Chuck Swindoll said, "The disciples personified Christ’s teachings and they qualified as men who could carry on His work without His needing to be present. They had been made into true disciples."
In being a discipler, I want to encourage you to strive for three things:
1) Develop the ability to see potential in others.
2) Pray for patience and endurance with your disciples.
3) Develop the desire to delegate meaningful work to others.
Tons of rock must be mined and crushed in order to produce one small diamond. If you go into a mine looking for diamonds or potential leaders, you will find them. And once you have found them, you need to carry on the work of transforming them from a raw diamond to a fully cut, brilliant diamond.
Read Part 2, with more on the facets of listening, prayer, attitude, and servanthood.
Laura Chamberlain is a trained physiotherapist with an extensive teaching background. She is a writer and speaker, and has been a university lecturer. She is also a certified prenatal instructor and works part-time as a physician's assistant for her husband, an obstetrician /gynecologist.
