Many people may be qualified for a management position, but few are considered “leaders”. The important question to ask then is, what makes this distinction? There has been a great deal of research on this topic and scholars would agree that there are many defining differences between management and leadership. However, the best organizational leaders need to display the characteristics of both in order to effect positive change and achieve goals. I will examine the similarities and differences of management and leadership along with foundational Biblical principles of Christian leadership to determine how I can best utilize these skills to better lead and influence my team.
Leadership seems to be a mystical idea that is hard to define or comprehend. Many describe leadership in …show more content…
Consider Ephesians 6:9, “And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” As Matt Perman states in his blog post, “A Christian View of Management,” this means “we are to view our workers with respect and treat them as real people in the image of God who are more than just a pair of hands, but are also creative and resourceful and a source of ideas” (Perman, 2011, para. 9). When we start to manage as we are instructed to according to the Word, we become leaders.
It should not be a question of whether management or leadership is more desirable, but rather how we can grow the best managers into leaders. In her book, The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership, Jenni Catron says it well, “Management is the method by which great leadership is executed. Management takes a leader’s instincts and inspiration and puts them into action. Management is the stewardship engine that drives leadership. Management is the engaging of our minds toward action” (Catron, 2015, p.
Leadership seems to be a mystical idea that is hard to define or comprehend. Many describe leadership in …show more content…
Consider Ephesians 6:9, “And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” As Matt Perman states in his blog post, “A Christian View of Management,” this means “we are to view our workers with respect and treat them as real people in the image of God who are more than just a pair of hands, but are also creative and resourceful and a source of ideas” (Perman, 2011, para. 9). When we start to manage as we are instructed to according to the Word, we become leaders.
It should not be a question of whether management or leadership is more desirable, but rather how we can grow the best managers into leaders. In her book, The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership, Jenni Catron says it well, “Management is the method by which great leadership is executed. Management takes a leader’s instincts and inspiration and puts them into action. Management is the stewardship engine that drives leadership. Management is the engaging of our minds toward action” (Catron, 2015, p.