Think you don’t have what it takes? Relax! Leaders come in all shapes and sizes.Leadership is not my favourite topic. Yet it seems to be the one that I’ve been spending the most time with lately-reading about it, going to conferences about it, having our corps leaders declare leadership development as our current priority, and now being asked to write an article about it. It’s a subject that just won’t go away.

So, why don’t I like it? Why don’t I run to it with excitement-ready to embrace a multitude of new ideas? I don’t like to admit this, but it’s probably due to the fact that before I began to really understand leadership, it was leaders themselves that I was most afraid of. I know-that’s not going to make me sound very “hip” in today’s postmodern, leader-driven world. I can just hear people now: “He’s afraid of leaders!” I only hope that confession really is good for the soul.

Early on in ministry, I realized that as much as I loved people-being with them and ministering to them-I didn’t really like leaders. I was intimidated, threatened, and somehow couldn’t deal with God wanting me to become one. I was overwhelmed with a sense of inadequacy and felt that I was being exposed to something that I just couldn’t become.

The worst example was at a conference where one of our guests spoke on what it takes to be a “good leader.” He was loud, large, obviously a leader, and he knew it. I didn’t like him already. Then he said, “Take out a piece of paper and write down what you’re not good at as a leader.” I began wondering how long we had and how much paper I could use.

Just as I was about to begin writing, he used his very loud voice (why are leaders always shouting anyway?) and said, “ … and don’t write ‘ making decisions.’ ” Now I really didn’t like him. How did he know what I was about to write? And why was he telling me I wasn’t allowed to write it? He shouted out, “The one thing leaders must always be able to do is make decisions. There is no room for indecisiveness in a leader.” In my stubbornness, I stopped listening.

The good news is that I’ve come a long way since that occasion (much to the relief of my congregation, I’m sure). God has shown me that I’m a leader-that, in fact, there are many kinds of leaders-and that he’ll make me useful because that’s his plan. And for you loud leaders out there-I’m not afraid anymore!

A Fresh Understanding
So … what changed? Many of us sing Geoff Bullock’s song The Power of Your Love, which contains the line, “Lord, renew my mind …” How wonderful it is when this really happens. God replaces lies with truth, doubt with assurance, ignorance with understanding.

For me, it began with a fresh understanding of biblical leadership. God uses leaders to accomplish many of his purposes, but the Bible shows us that leaders are not all alike. They are not made in a mould. They are not all loud. They are not all the firstborn of the family. They are not always the most likely choice according to business model standards.

Nehemiah was a servant in the king’s dining room. Moses didn’t think he could speak to a crowd. Jeremiah was often an emotional wreck. David was a musician and a poet-and the youngest son. Stephen waited on tables. OK, Daniel was handsome, gifted and apparently near-perfect-but he’s the exception.

Bill Hybels, founder of Willow Creek Church in Illinois, agrees with God. In his book Courageous Leadership, he writes a chapter outlining different types of leaders and how God uses them for different purposes. What a relief! We don’t all have to be the same. We don’t all have to be loud. Personality, genetics and birth order don’t define who we can be for God. I can be a leader if that’s what God wants.

So, who I am is just what God wants me to be. What’s next?

Strength in Weakness
The truth of the message in 2 Corinthians 12:9 makes the next step possible. Obviously I need God’s power in my life to allow me to be and do what God planned. This verse shows that God’s power is made perfect through our own failures and vulnerabilities, so that on account of God’s strength we can boast all the more about our weaknesses.

Finally, here’s something I know how to do. And I learned how to do it in true humility (as opposed to being an exhibitionist about my human limitations). I recently heard a great definition of true humility-“agreeing with God about who I am.” I thought that was marvellous!

What about making decisions? Governance is one of the most complicated issues in the Army today. Who’s in charge? Who gets to be involved in policy making and setting future direction? Who has the final say? Why isn’t the corps officer still the commanding officer? Is it true that a leader can’t be indecisive? What do I do about that?

My overly cautious and analytical personality means that I tend to be slow and deliberate in making decisions. As for my personality type, here’s the official description: “Quiet and reserved, interested in security and peaceful living; possesses a strongly felt internal sense of duty; is organized, methodical, loyal, faithful, dependable and uncomfortable with breaking laws or going against the rules; is overly obsessed with structure and has tremendous respect for facts; holds a tremendous store of facts within themselves; is likely to be uncomfortable expressing affection and emotion to others; under stress may fall into ‘catastrophe mode,’ where he sees nothing but all of the possibilities of what could go wrong.”

How boring is that? Where’s the stuff about being “bold, loud and able to think quickly and act resolutely”? What’s with “security, duty, and being methodical and loyal”? OK, for those of you who know me, it’s time to stop laughing!

Diversity of Gifts
One of the greatest gifts about God’s leadership is that he makes all kinds of leaders. I’ve learned how exciting it is to be surrounded by all these different types. Even though we hold up examples of biblical leaders and treat them as stand-alone figures who accomplished great things on their own, this is not really the truth.

Gideon had an army (a small one, but a faithful one). Moses had 70 others who stood alongside him in leadership. Nehemiah was surrounded with helpers as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Even Daniel had three faithful friends.

So, I’m not going to try to do anything alone. It takes a bit more time and patience, but I much prefer being part of a team of leaders than trying something on my own. And teams can make decisions! How great is that?

Now, instead of trying to be something that I’m not, I surround myself with people who are all the things I used to wish I could be. And I like them! I like loud leaders who can quickly declare their passion. I like leaders who are impulsive and outgoing. I like leaders who are creative and artistic. I like leaders who are fun to be with. I like leaders who are “thinkers.” I like leaders who know how to feel. I like leaders who are constantly coming up with new ideas. I like leaders who know how to put ideas into reality. And I even like workaholic, driven, “type A” leaders who can’t stop moving. When you put them all together, God is able to do amazing things-more than all we can ever ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20).

Business and management expert William C. Taylor, founding editor of Fast Company magazine, said, “Leaders of the future need to have the stomach for conflict and uncertainty.” If you’re like me and your stomach gets upset just thinking about that, don’t despair and don’t run. If God is calling you to be a leader, then be a leader. Find out who God made you to be, let his power make you something you never thought you could be, allow him to put you in the place where he wants you to be, and let others lead with you. Then be prepared to write about it when asked.

by Major Jamie Braund
Corps Officer, Cariboo Hill Temple, Burnaby, B.C.