Don't Follow Me
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As I sit here after a Sunday worship experience, I am convinced that most people desire some form of leader within their lives, even if the leader they have chosen is corrupt. Many people have a fear of leading and only want to follow. Leadership requires such a strong sense of responsibility that only those who are consistently open to change are able to successfully lead without character flaws. Leading by example is the theory that we can only successfully lead in areas where we are committed to be examples. This is not an easy task and I believe that the average person is in search of some form of leader in their life. It is the nature of a human to desire to follow and not necessarily to lead.
Manipulators take advantage of people's desire to be led and lead only to obtain self-gain and self-wealth. When I talk about the church atmosphere, I tend to offend many because I believe most leaders in the church are manipulators.
After being in church my entire life and marrying a bishop, I have seen a side of church that has completely frustrated me. I do not understand how we can take from the poor to make ourselves rich and then strip them of the self-confidence and independence to prey on their love for God. Someone needs to educate our followers on their finances and lifestyles to help them be complete and whole people. It is my theory that the role of a leader is to empower the followers to become whole and complete individuals. That's why I struggle with the idea of bus riders paying for Lamborghinis for leaders who cannot even return their phone calls when they are in a crisis.
We have many who are leading in areas where neither their lives nor their actions are in line with their verbiage. We are telling people, “Do what I say and not what I do.” But this theory is antiquated because we have a new generation of leaders who are saying, “No, we are not going to follow you or your theory of life, but we are choosing to follow the model that Christ established for us.”
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About the Book
Leadership is one of the most diverse topics discussed in the corporate arena as well as ministry. We often describe the church as a business. If this is true, we really need to redefine the roots of our existence. As a body, what do we really believe? What makes a good leader? What do we need to do to nurture this in corporate America as well as the church?
The meaning of leadership is broad but narrow enough to provide specific qualities. This book will explore the beliefs of several prominent leadership theories while providing meaning and understanding of various leadership styles. One of the major objectives of this book is to identify what makes a good leader. In the pages that follow, I will highlight my four principles of leadership within the church and corporate environment: the idea that leaders are examples; leaders are disciplined; leaders are servants; and leaders are honest and have integrity.
About the Author
Dr. Lawanda S. Rutledge-Gordon is recognized as the leading expert of “motivating change” in the mind, body, and soul. Dr. Rutledge-Gordon obtained her PhD from