To become an influential leader is all about taking responsibility
14 – “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 – But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 to 15)
There are people in your circle that you can exercise influence on
The fact is that everyone is born a leader. In one way or the other people do exercise the act of influence. There are people in your circle that you can exercise influence on. When someone else is trying to pass an information, it is as though no one is listening and no one will be willing to take up such information and run with it. They doubt the person trying to exercise leadership over them. But the respond fast when you are the one passing such information.
People are been influenced by what that very person can invest in them
It might be that the reason behind such information was never genuine but for the fact that it is coming from someone who the people can listen to, that caused the people to go ahead to carry it out. Yes, there is no controversy that the reason behind why some people act under the influence of someone else is because of selfish interest. Whichever way, there must be a reason why one has influence over others.
The point I am trying to make here is that for one to have influence over others that comes with a price. People cannot wake one morning and decided to start following someone just because he or she must have seen this very person as someone who has the charisma to lead. Anyone who does that must have had some moment of deliberation about following this very person. People are been influenced by what that very person can invest in them.
No one can influence effectively if he or she cannot influence oneself effectively.
I have read through some books from great leaders on leadership, I have seen many who arrived at the conclusion that leadership is all about influence. I am not here to dispute the fact that leadership is all about influence. But the question is many who have read so many great books on leadership is all about influence have not truly discovered the art of being influential.
People cannot give what they do not have. People can only lead and run at the pace of the knowledge they have. Do not be deceived, leadership of influence starts with oneself before others. It is unwise to tell people to follow your words and ignore your character. Anyone who desires to be influential in the aspect of leadership should first of all influence oneself right. No one can influence effectively if he or she cannot influence oneself effectively.
The leader of genuine influence is a leader of character
Leadership of influence starts with oneself before spreading to others. People will not only want to follow the person who know road, they will also want to follow the person of character more. The person who know road that has character flaw can abandon the people on the way when the going gets tough for some selfish interest. Leadership is not about the one who knows the road, when one cannot detect the ending.
That one knows the road is never a guarantee that he or she has what it takes to lead the people to their desired ending. The leader of genuine influence is a leader of character. A leader of character is a leader who thinks about the people first. No one can genuinely influence the people to follow his or her leadership who does not think about the people first. You must have the people at heart first if you must influence them your way.
You can’t influence the people right if you do not point them to Christ
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1Corianthians chapter 11 verses 1)
Apostle Paul’s leadership encouraged everyone who has been influenced by him to look at the end point which is to become like Christ Jesus. That is the heart of a true and genuine leader and leadership. You can’t influence the people right if you do not point them to Christ. People you are influencing must be changed into an agent of transformation and it is Christ Jesus that has the capacity to transform anyone.
That is a leader with a genuine influence having the people at heart
Leadership is all about influence, but one needs to be mindful of what he or she is influencing people into. Many leaders in the society today does not have the right heart to lead and influence people right. They have thrown away the moral standards that will help stir up good moral in the heart of the people. When good moral is far in place, disorders is inevitable. When the system is void of good morals, that will have a wrong influence on the people.
I so much love the way Apostle Paul put it in book of first Corinthians chapter eleven verses one, he said, ‘In as much as I am the one influencing you at the moment, I have someone who is influencing me and that is Christ Jesus. He is the ultimate influence for good morals. That is the Man everyone should long to become like.” What Apostle Paul was making known is that incase he deviated on the way, that everyone should know the One to look upon. That is a leader with a genuine influence having the people at heart.
Conclusion:
1 – “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 – And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2Timothy chapter 2 verses 1 to 2)
The true criteria to know you have influenced people right, is in your absence. When you are not there, will those who are following you be able to lead others right? May God Almighty help us to be instrument He will use to influence people right so that they will become vessels for the Master’s use. We have not done any great job in the kingdom until we are able to raise men and women who will stand in our place when we are away to influence others right.
