Leadership Model for a New Millenium: Jesus as a Leader
This essay will be introduced in parts over the next few postings.
Ignacio Sanchez Mejias, your friendly Monikin
Introduction
In the last decade, there has been a significant proliferation of books on the subject of leadership, everything from Machiavelli and Sun Tzu to Attila the Hun. After having read most of these books and not being entirely satisfied with the leadership methods advocated therein, it seems that whatever merit these books may have, they do not reflect the leadership principles and characteristics required in a modern democratic society. As such, they do not provide effective leadership models for the business world that ultimately reflect the values of that society from which they arise.
Given the lack of effective leadership models, two significant points must be considered. First, we, as a society, do need leadership models to guide our behavior and teach our citizens how to become effective leaders. Second, whatever guidance has been provided has been inadequate, misinformed, incomplete or not definitive, or some combination thereof.
Thus the fundamental problem which we seek to address is simply: how can an individual become a good leader, that is to say, what characteristics must a person acquire in order to become a more effective leader in our society? What leadership model is suitable for a Western society like the United States? In order to answer these questions sufficiently and satisfactorily, we need to reexamine the role of Jesus Christ, not in a religious or historical sense but rather as a model of leadership. Though Jesus is typically thought of as a teacher, yet the leadership he demonstrated throughout his ministry serves as a useful and effective model that provides answers to the questions posed; that is to say, as guidance for business and government leaders in the United States.
To paraphrase Alexander the Great, it is worth remembering that the true test of leadership is that the institutions outlast the leaders. Ultimately, any model is judged by its results. Jesus’ ministry survives after 2,000 years. As such, it is a leadership model worth considering.
Ignacio Sanchez Mejias, your friendly Monikin
Introduction
In the last decade, there has been a significant proliferation of books on the subject of leadership, everything from Machiavelli and Sun Tzu to Attila the Hun. After having read most of these books and not being entirely satisfied with the leadership methods advocated therein, it seems that whatever merit these books may have, they do not reflect the leadership principles and characteristics required in a modern democratic society. As such, they do not provide effective leadership models for the business world that ultimately reflect the values of that society from which they arise.
Given the lack of effective leadership models, two significant points must be considered. First, we, as a society, do need leadership models to guide our behavior and teach our citizens how to become effective leaders. Second, whatever guidance has been provided has been inadequate, misinformed, incomplete or not definitive, or some combination thereof.
Thus the fundamental problem which we seek to address is simply: how can an individual become a good leader, that is to say, what characteristics must a person acquire in order to become a more effective leader in our society? What leadership model is suitable for a Western society like the United States? In order to answer these questions sufficiently and satisfactorily, we need to reexamine the role of Jesus Christ, not in a religious or historical sense but rather as a model of leadership. Though Jesus is typically thought of as a teacher, yet the leadership he demonstrated throughout his ministry serves as a useful and effective model that provides answers to the questions posed; that is to say, as guidance for business and government leaders in the United States.
To paraphrase Alexander the Great, it is worth remembering that the true test of leadership is that the institutions outlast the leaders. Ultimately, any model is judged by its results. Jesus’ ministry survives after 2,000 years. As such, it is a leadership model worth considering.
posted by Ignacio | 5:13 PM
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