Transformational Leadership Style - Essay Example

Introduction This paper delves on highlighting on the servant leadership integration. In the paper, the leadership style that I have identified is the transformational leadership style. Transformational style is a leadership style that instills good positive values and morals to the people who envy and follow the qualities and aspect of the style. The transformational leaders are zealous and ready to move everybody that surrounds them to the point of success. The leaders are goal oriented, self-driven, and work with passion for the better. The leaders work extraordinarily for the better to be achieved. Transformational leadership style is composed of so many components (Margaret 2013). The components of transformational leadership are well highlighted below; Intellectual stimulation This of component transformational style encourages creativity and innovation among the people who follow this style. The transformational leaders challenge the members who follow them and arouse them to identify new gaps and learn from that. The local churches can as well adapt this form of transformational style so that they identify the areas or points that they may need to strengthen to enable them develop and spread the gospel further (Larry 2002). Individualized or subjective consideration Under this component of transformational leadership, it is important to note that the transformational leaders give personal assistance to the individual followers. The followers can access the services they would require from the followers. They have ensured that there is transparency in the means and modes of communication between the leaders and the followers. This has helped as the followers can now see that the leaders acknowledge the efforts that they make towards the team. The local churches have always shown this especially in the cases where the church members would wish to have prayer requests at their residential places and thank God that the God sent servants have never let them down. The servants do this because the word of the Lord is free and to make the members see that the efforts that they put in the church are acknowledged (Mitsuru 2011). Inspirational motivation Transformational leaders have well set goals and missions that have boosted the loyalty of the members. The members therefore have developed a strong passion for the team thereby contributing much for the benefit of the team. In the local churches, the leaders have to be goal oriented of which the goal is spreading the gospel and they should not involve themselves in other activities that can send the people away from the Lord. They should therefore conduct themselves in an inspiring and a manner that is quite motivating (Rhonda 2011). Idealized influence Transformational leaders can serve as the moral icons fir their followers. Any move they take will therefore be highly copied and emulated by their followers. It is therefore important to highlight that they should conduct themselves well so that the picture that comes after they are seen is a positive one to the followers. The leaders in the local churches should therefore be on the forefront of inflicting good moral values to the people. This is another way of accomplishing the work of the Lord (Larry 2002). It is very important to highlight that transformational form of leadership has various core values that, are the propulsive forces that that back up the mission as well as the visional duties of the servants of God. The core or rather the main values of transformational style of leadership are highlighted below; Courage Transformational style of leadership needs a lot of courage for success to be realized in any mission that you undertake. With this, the servant has to be ready to take the risk and as well bear them. Courage must be supported with good will and positivity in any circumstance you choose to go for. Courageous servants of the biblical work mission have the potential of overcoming any temptation that may come their way. The missionary work of God requires a lot of audacity and courage to meet any situation without relenting. This is a good aspect and value in the transformational style of leadership. In addition, the bible also highlights much on courage. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, the states clearly that no mission in human life does be achieved when there is no courage. This verse puts it out clearly the core reason why we are encouraged to be courageous in whatever mission or plan that we undertake. Leaders in the local churches should be courageous in whichever mission they take for the spread of the gospel of the Lord (Mitsuru 2011). Curiosity This is the home to all the dreams and wishes. It is important to note that Curiosity is where all the hopes, dreams, wishes, and ambitions are created and nurtured for their realization. All are therefore born here. Servants of God use this value of transformational style to show the gap that they have an effect in the Lord’s Kingdom. The moment a servant becomes curios, the Lord will therefore never fails them. Just as it is mentioned in the book of Romans chapter 8:31 that If the Lord God is for us, then who again can be against us. Transformational leaders therefore are curious and this makes their followers to develop this value of curiosity to make them be seen different from the other people in the world. The leaders in the local churches should try in as much as possible to be curious. They can ensure this by visiting the members of their churches to do a follow up on their member’s progress in the spiritual ministry. Checking on members as a leader is one good aspect that shows how much you care for each other in the church and how valuable you take each other (Margaret 2013). Compassion Transformational leadership requires a lot of compassion to make a positive change in the lives of different people. We need to appreciate and perceive the people as the blessings from the love of God. The bible gave gives us a spiritual comparison between Jesus and his disciples on the view of the people. When Christ and his disciples were, walking on the Palestinian highways or rather roads as the bible puts it, the disciples saw masses who they say were exasperating, and they opt to take to their heels while Jesus saw people who needed to be assisted. This is not compassion, at all times see the people as the blessings and as the creatures of the Lord. Co passion calls for the attachment of value to the people you see without any form of discrimination from any perspective. The servants of God therefore tend to show compassion to the people and this has always brought a good relationship between them and the people whom they assist and even to the Lord God himself. The local churches should therefore apply this in their ministry so that the people have a sense of belonging (Larry 2002). Commitment This value alienates the people living in fantasy and world of dreams from the people who believe in action. It is important to highlight that in transformational style of leadership, the servants should be dedicative and committed when it comes to their missionary work. Commitment is a positive value that is always required in any exercise and this helps in the fostering of success. We should therefore show Commitment as the servants of the God so that the gospel reaches all and transforms many souls. In addition, even as it is highlighted in the book of Mark chapter 8:34, it states that Jesus Christ requires commitment. The leaders in the local churches are to show how dedicated they are to the ministry that they are executing so that the people they serve can develop much interest in the world of God based on how the leaders do it. As a leader, you deserve to even dedicate you time to the people you serve (Rhonda 2011). Commission This is an important value when it comes to the service of the Lord. This value requires a sense of authority during the exercising of the missionary work. The bible itself shows at one point when Jesus Christ went into the church and anger took control of him. He then whipped the traders who made the temple of God a market. By this, he was exercising the value of commission, authoritative nature, or aspect of a servant. The local church leaders should have some sort of authority while in the church so that they are deeply obeyed for the gospel ministry to be propagated further without any barrier (Margaret 2013). In the assessment of my personality profile, I can proudly say that the Lord was so kind to me and gave me so many qualities that I possess. I am a loving person who cares so much for the welfare of other people. I empathize and sympathize whenever there is a problem and the victim approaches me. Just as Jesus wanted the people who wanted to punish the woman who they said was a prostitute, I too put myself every time there is a problem. I am a God fearing person who is guided and lives according to the world. In addition, I am a courageous person who is ready to take apathy for the better. I possess good ability for integration and coordination for the enhancement of teamwork. Besides, I possess good understanding ability and proper self-control that make me be not reacting adversely to situations (Rhonda 2011). The personal values that I possess are very useful in the leadership development. As a leader, I will be able to unite all the members to ensure that the intended missionary work is achieved. The good understanding and proper self-control are other qualities that will be effectively helpful in the development of the servant leadership. Another important quality that I possess is that I am guided by the word of the Lord. This is a very important feature that will of enable me to make decisions appropriately that suits the interest of all the people for the better(Margaret 2013). It is important to note that there are spiritual gifts that I possess that can be effectively used in exercising my duty as leader. The spiritual gifts that I possess are well highlighted below; Apostle gift This spiritual gift enables the spread of the gospel ministry. An apostle is like the root of the church. It is important to highlight that in my duty as a leader, I can establish as many churches as possible to ensure that the gospel of the Lord reaches all the people of God. Just as it was is indicated in the bible, I can as well use the same criteria to develop many churches in various areas. This important gift should be adapted even in the local churches to make them spread in many parts of the world. Apostle gift helps in the establishment and building of many churches (Rhonda 2011). Love This spiritual gift is talked of so much in the bible. The fourth commandment in the bible talks of loving one another as we love ourselves. As a leader, the spiritual gift of love is a very crucial gift that should always be put into consideration at all times. Under this gift, it is important to highlight that it will make me as the leader to work with all the people. The gift of love helps in the way leaders treat others. Just as Jesus Christ used the gift of love to the people, we should also employ the use of this gift in our servant leadership duties. With this, as a servant leader I will be able to reach everybody for the spread of the gospel. The local churches and their members should love one another as we are told in the bible so that we care for each other, guide, and help one another to move to the directions that please the Lord. Love is always considered the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit. The local churches should show how lovely they are to one another. This will bring so much integration and unity in the churches (Margaret 2013). Faith It is important to highlight that in the servant leadership ministry, faith is a key issue or gift that should always be considered. Faith is the belief that everything is possible. Just as it is said in the bible that faith without action is dead, the faithful ones need action for the fruits of this gift to be realized. Faith is a gift that deals with the belief. It is a strong belief in someone or something. As a leader, I have to believe in myself that I can so that I build the trust of the people that I lead and serve. With this, they will develop confidence in me and make the gospel ministry propagated to the inner souls of many. Just as the servants of the Lord Abraham and Job had strong faith in the Lord, we should also develop such kind of strong faith for us to enter in to the kingdom (Larry 2002). Jesus Christ too had faith in the Lord and that is the factor, which made him to overcome the temptations of Satan. In the bible, we are also told of the faith that made the sick person by the roadside. In the story, we are told in the bible that he had been sick for twenty-eight years. He said that he was sure the name or the touching the robe of Jesus alone would heal him. This was a high sign of faith, which was in the sick. Faith is a very important gift in the gospel and leadership ministry. As they say, faith can move mountains and can as well bring hope where there is no hope. The local churches can as well have faith in the word of the Lord so that they may enter into the kingdom of the Lord when the victors will be crowned (Rhonda 2011). Humility The work of leadership requires a lot of humility from the leaders themselves. In the bible, we are told that Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples. This was a sign of humility. As a leader, I will be down to earth and play the cards right in the manner that everybody will appreciate me. Humility brings the leader and the people whom he or she leads. The local churches should therefore show the best they can, and be seen as humble people so that the best can be reaped from the leaders (Larry 2002). Joy It is important to note that one cannot lead when he does not possess any sense of humor and is not jovial. Joy is another spiritual gift that I possess. One has to be a jovial and sociable so that the people he leads can interact with him freely and openly. A sense of joy creates a little heaven down here on earth. For the church members to imagine of the joy that shall be in heaven, the local church leaders should therefore be very joyous such that whenever they make reference to the joy that will be in heaven, the people can envy to reach the kingdom of the Lord. Jesus was sociable and joyous in his life that he led. We as the local churches leaders should learn from that to bridge the gap that may widen between the leaders and the members (Larry 2002). Knowledge and Wisdom These are two spiritual gifts that go hand in hand.it is important to highlight that Knowledge and wisdom are very sensitive gifts that are very useful in the decision making process in any ministry or service. In the gospel ministry, we are told that the only item that Solomon asked from the Lord was wisdom and not even the materialistic property. The wisdom that he was given, helped in the saving the life of an infant and, a mother from sorrow of losing her baby. The local church leaders should have knowledge and the wisdom that will help them in any decision making that can affect the church in one way or the other. Proper decision-making helps in avoiding conflicts thereby the churches remain as a unit and not divide in way (Larry 2002). Mercy This is a gift of the Holy Spirit, which is so much in the heart. The merciful people are those that feel for the others. They provide the people who are in need, they assist people in cases of plight, and they have human heart naturally. It is therefore appropriate for the local churches to apply this gift and extend their support to the needy people in their various areas of service. The gift of mercy should not only be in the churches only. This gift should be shown to everybody. The church is the best place to call home, if the church leaders and the members are not merciful then the Lord in heaven will not be happy when his creatures suffer ion the earth surface. The local churches should therefore find themselves attracted to the people who are needy and need to be assisted just as Jesus Christ was whenever he saw the people (Mitsuru 2011). It is important to note that there are certain areas that I need to grow to make me exercise my duty as a servant leader. The first area that I need to grow on is on the area of speaking as well as the interpretation of the tongues. Speaking in tongues is a special gift that the Lord should help me on as this again draws the people’s faith to be stronger in the Lord that you serve. God speaks to his servants in tongues and the servants should as well be provided with the ability to interpret the same tongues. This is one area, which the Lord should help me to grow in. Another area that I should improve is on the power of healing as a gospel minister. Healing is again another gift that makes the people or members of a church to develop strong faith and hope in whatever they do (Larry 2002). It is also important to highlight that the ability to make prophecies is another gift that I should be able to grow in through the power of the Lord. Prophecy is the ability of the servants of the Lord to foresee and to foretell. Growing in this will make the members of the local churches to develop strong faith with the hope that their problems will be foreseen and solved earlier by the Lord through his servants. If the Lord can make me grow in this gift then the people will be very faithful to the lord (Mitsuru 2011). In assessing my leadership philosophy, there are very vital leadership philosophies that I will employ in my leading my people and there are reasons that are attached to my selection of the leadership philosophies. The first leadership philosophy that I will use in my leadership is the philosophy of acknowledging the fact that leadership is a sense of calling. Leaders should always know that they are called by the Lord but born by human. I will acknowledge this fact by not going against the wish of the people and doing my leadership duties in a manner that pleases the Lord God himself. The philosophy will enable me to accomplish the mission of the gospel ministry. By recognizing the fact of leadership being a calling from the Lord, you will be able to understand all the structures and the leadership requirements. The leaders of the local churches should as well acknowledge this fact and lead the people appropriately just as Samuel the son of Elli acknowledged the calling from the Lord to take part in the leadership of the God’s people. Gideon also acknowledged this and even Moses. It is important to note that recognizing the fact that leadership is a calling from God gives the leader’s confidence and so I too will be confident, lead without fear, and make decisions as effectively as possible. In the biblical servant leadership the local church leaders should apply this philosophy for the better of the current churches in the world (Larry 2002). Another philosophy that I will use is by ensuring that there is openness, transparency, trust, and honesty in the leadership as a servant to the members and from the members. It is always said that honesty is the greatest virtue. Openness helps in boosting the interaction between a leader and the members. I will ensure this so that my interaction with the people whom I lead can be amended in any way that suits the people. it will make the people to have a voice in my leadership and not oppressed during my leadership terms. Honesty and trust all go hand in hand. I will be very truthful to the people and not lie to them on the gospel ministry. The biblical servant leaders in the local churches should also develop this virtues and values to make their leadership quite fulfilling and again satisfying (Mitsuru 2011). Another leadership philosophy that I will use is by the development of a great culture of honor, respect, and care for the people. As a leader, I will have to honor the people and give them the respect they deserve. Even if they are the ones who elected me, it was the choice of the Lord and the Lord worked through them. Respecting and honoring the people is therefore a sign of respecting the Lord God. The local church leaders should as well shoe high level of respect to their people and honor them just as the people they serve honor them. Respect is always two-way traffic sand should be shown by the two sides (Larry 2002). My philosophy in leadership will be effectively utilized in the biblical servant leadership in several instances in the local churches. The church members will appoint leaders whom they feel and know are trust worthy and possess the good leadership skills. The leaders will be the ones they developed trust in and the ones that they feel can lead them into a transformational style. The leaders will also be oriented in terms of goal, mission, and vision. This will be of great help to the local churches thereby the gospel of the Lord will spread to greater heights. My beliefs in ministry will be applied in ministry in various cases. The belief that leadership is a calling will be expressed in the gospel ministry by working according to the will of God and the wishes of the people. As a leader, I will view the people whom I serve as the people who need me for biblical assistance and not like masses. The biblical ministry needs a deeper heart that is quite understanding and ready to go into greater depths for the better of the people that are served. This is faith, courage that is backed up by the audacity in Christianity as a servant of the Lord. My belief that the biblical ministry is a calling will again make the people to give me a good serving environment as they will associate me with the Lord and believe all that I will utter from my mouth. Biblical servant leadership requires a lot of prayers to curb the temptations that do come along the way (Margaret 2013). References Larry C. Servant Leadership: A Journey Into the Nature of Legitimacy, UK, Cengage ,2002 Margaret, R. Leading Virtual Project Teams: Adapting Leadership Theories, AIAA, 2013 Mitsuru K. Interactive Business Communities: Accelerating Corporate, London, 2011 Rhonda H. Servant Leadership: A Biblical Study for Becoming a Leader, Boston,2011 Read More