"Those who follow Jesus embody fluidity, adaptation, and collaboration. It’s what we call the third-culture way. Adaptable to changing circumstances. To challenging cultures. To complex crises and problems. If there’s one quality that matters most to the fate of the church in the twenty-first century, it’s adaptability." - Dave Gibbons, The Monkey and the Fish
3 Quotients Every Leader Needs to Be Working On
IQ – Intelligence Quotient. Always desire to grow and gain intelligence. The moment our competency ends, our lid is reached. The only way to know what you don’t know is to learn what you don’t know. Leaders should be connecting with people who are a step or two above us and learn from them and help us expand our competence.
EQ – Emotional Quotient. Far more people will be held back as leaders because of their emotional maturity rather than their intelligence.
AQ – Adaptability Quotient. If you’re not able to adapt or be willing to change, then you’re going to be left behind. We have to be people who are willing to adapt to the situations and circumstances that we are placed in. Leaders should be able to change with the culture, organization, and personal growth.
IQ – Intelligence Quotient. Always desire to grow and gain intelligence. The moment our competency ends, our lid is reached. The only way to know what you don’t know is to learn what you don’t know. Leaders should be connecting with people who are a step or two above us and learn from them and help us expand our competence.
EQ – Emotional Quotient. Far more people will be held back as leaders because of their emotional maturity rather than their intelligence.
AQ – Adaptability Quotient. If you’re not able to adapt or be willing to change, then you’re going to be left behind. We have to be people who are willing to adapt to the situations and circumstances that we are placed in. Leaders should be able to change with the culture, organization, and personal growth.
Sometimes we need to download apps to compensate for the gifts, talents, wisdom or experiences we don’t have. It's like those who regularly use their calculator app because they're not good at math. But for those who are quickly able to calculate figures mentally it might not be an app they'd use much at all.
We know that leaders aren't all the same. In fact, God Himself has beautifully crafted us in ways that naturally depict our need for adapting to the various leadership environments and competencies ...
“God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation … God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body … So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another." 1 Corinthians 12:18-25 (AMP)
With this in mind, we must remain teachable. We’re all in process; we are to be headed in the right direction but we have not achieved perfection. We must be able to receive correction. There are constantly new updates to apps and there are new facets of leadership that we must continually embrace. This requires adaptation.
Tony Morgan wrote a helpful post that reminds us that we need mentors in our lives to help us discover our capacity and grow to new levels. In Exodus 18:13–27 we find that Moses is in need of some leadership assistance. His father-in-law, Jethro, gave him some timely advice to help him adapt to the leadership demands that were pressing in around him. In those verses he describes the capacities of various leaders.
"Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Exodus 18:17–23 (NIV)
We know that leaders aren't all the same. In fact, God Himself has beautifully crafted us in ways that naturally depict our need for adapting to the various leadership environments and competencies ...
“God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation … God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body … So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another." 1 Corinthians 12:18-25 (AMP)
With this in mind, we must remain teachable. We’re all in process; we are to be headed in the right direction but we have not achieved perfection. We must be able to receive correction. There are constantly new updates to apps and there are new facets of leadership that we must continually embrace. This requires adaptation.
Tony Morgan wrote a helpful post that reminds us that we need mentors in our lives to help us discover our capacity and grow to new levels. In Exodus 18:13–27 we find that Moses is in need of some leadership assistance. His father-in-law, Jethro, gave him some timely advice to help him adapt to the leadership demands that were pressing in around him. In those verses he describes the capacities of various leaders.
"Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Exodus 18:17–23 (NIV)
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Some leaders who start out leading 10s may have the capacity to become leaders of 50s. People who lead 100s well may be great leading 1000s, but then again, they may not. It takes leaders who have walked this pathway investing in their teams to help them find out.
There are different competencies required to lead at each of these levels. As leaders, it’s important to understand them and invest in people with the aim of helping them develop those competencies. Here are some examples of the competencies required at each level of leadership. |
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Models: Leads 10s
Leads by Example Competencies:
Delegates: Leads 50s
Leads Other People Competencies:
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Empowers: Leads 100s
Leads Other Leaders Competencies:
Catalyzes: Leads 1000s
Leads Through Vision Competencies:
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Will All Leaders Walk This Path?
You may be thinking “If I’m currently a leader of 10s, will good development make me a leader of 1000s?” The answer to that is “maybe.” Some people will find they aren’t suited for the next level, and having that realization may be a good thing.
When studying leadership, it can be easy to stereotype leaders of large numbers as the best, assuming they’re reaching the pinnacle of leadership development. The truth is, some people have an innate ability to inspire and lead 1000s and some people, no matter how hard they work, will never truly be gifted at leading at a higher level than the one they are living now.
Leadership is important at every level. We need to stop stigmatizing leaders by their number of followers and recognize the value in having each of the types of leadership gifts working together for the good of the Kingdom.
Some key points to leave you with:
You may be thinking “If I’m currently a leader of 10s, will good development make me a leader of 1000s?” The answer to that is “maybe.” Some people will find they aren’t suited for the next level, and having that realization may be a good thing.
When studying leadership, it can be easy to stereotype leaders of large numbers as the best, assuming they’re reaching the pinnacle of leadership development. The truth is, some people have an innate ability to inspire and lead 1000s and some people, no matter how hard they work, will never truly be gifted at leading at a higher level than the one they are living now.
Leadership is important at every level. We need to stop stigmatizing leaders by their number of followers and recognize the value in having each of the types of leadership gifts working together for the good of the Kingdom.
Some key points to leave you with:
- Be honest about your capacity. Understand how God has wired you, and grow in your unique abilities.
- If someone is not a leader, you can’t make them one. True leaders pursue development.
- You can have influence whether you’re a leader or not. Disciple-making is for all Christ-followers – not just those of us with the leadership gift.
- If you’re a leader who does grow to lead at different levels, you will still have to lead in ways other than how you’re currently positioned. (People who lead 1000s still sometimes need to lead by example.)
- Think about the competencies you’ll need to grow to the next level. Get mentoring, training and coaching to learn those competencies.
Examples of Leadership Apps that have yet to be fully developed ...
1. Resourcing and Out-Sourcing
2. Fasting – the periodic realignment of our appetites to God’s will.
3. Information – share as much information as you can, this empowers and creates a sense of ownership.
4. Paradox – making seemingly self-contradictory statements that when investigated prove to be true. Here are a few examples ...
1. Resourcing and Out-Sourcing
2. Fasting – the periodic realignment of our appetites to God’s will.
3. Information – share as much information as you can, this empowers and creates a sense of ownership.
4. Paradox – making seemingly self-contradictory statements that when investigated prove to be true. Here are a few examples ...
“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:12 (NIV)
“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 (NIV)
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31 (NIV)
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45 (NIV)
“If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.”
Luke 6:29 (NIV)
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 (NIV)
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV)
Matthew 5:12 (NIV)
“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 (NIV)
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31 (NIV)
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45 (NIV)
“If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.”
Luke 6:29 (NIV)
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 (NIV)
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV)
5. Persuasion – Learning how to persuade others and teams rather than coerce.
How are you compensating for your weaknesses?
What are we missing?
What would you have put on the Dock or on the Home Screen?
How are you compensating for your weaknesses?
What are we missing?
What would you have put on the Dock or on the Home Screen?