Q2. Leadership Styles

[Craig]

Q2. (2 Corinthians 1:24) What does it mean to “lord it over” someone? What is the balance between (1) good, strong leadership, (2) micromanaging, and (3) a complete laissez-faire approach to leadership? What are the dangers of an authoritative leadership style? What are the dangers of a weak leadership style?

 

"Lording it over someone" means to dominate them.  As a pastor and father I practice leadership by example.  I try to model, encourage, teach, preach, advise, and council as to how and what it means to be a follower of Christ.  However, the bottom is that I cannot live other people's lives.  "Lording it over someone" doesn't and wouldn't make them strong followers of Christ.

 

I believe a strong leader leads by example modeling the Christian lifestyle.  A strong leader guides, directs, and creates visions and goals for His congregation to strive to achieve. The goal being in-depth spiritual development in those the leader is leading.   A weak leadership style doesn't offer much direction and spiritual development in their congregations or students.

[WinstonY]

To lord it over someone is to act mightier than thou- to act as you are smarter than others or have authority than another. It is a feeling of bigness. this a very different way toact than what Paul recommends in philippians 2. 3 , where he writes to regard in humility othiers as better than your self.

Good leadership involves neither laissez faire or micromanaging but involves letting others work in their own style within appropriate guidelines.

An authoritative style can lead to disgruntled troops and poor moral as can weak leadership. The leader needs to point the way, give support and guidance and get out of the way. Jesus spent three years training his and then supplied the support and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

[lighthouse2014]

Q2. (2 Corinthians 1:24) What does it mean to “lord it over” someone? What is the balance between (1) good, strong leadership, (2) micromanaging, and (3) a completefai laissez-re approach to leadership? What are the dangers of an authoritative leadership style? What are the dangers of a weak leadership style?

In the statement to "lord it over someone" means that a person has authority over someone else, because of his position in the family of Christ, example, he is an Apostle. This because he has taught them the truth as he received it from the Lord.

To be a strong leader a person must be a well taught and adamant in his instruction to those he has converted. To micromanage means a person does not let the members do their job as they were instructed, thus one uses his authority to over see that the leaders are doing a good and proper job, this does not let the converts get a good grounding in training and instruction causing the teachers to get disgusted in their jobs. A Laissez-faire to leadership is to completely stay out of the leadership responsibilities of others. This can cause a complete misunderstanding of teachings and true that maybe misconstrued.

A good approach to leadership is to give instruction to all those that are to teach and lead the others, all the while ensuring that the truth and correct instruction is being given.

The danger of an authoritative leader could lead those that are being tutored to desert the teaching and the leader instructing them. He is forcing his ideals and interpretations of the word which maybe incorrect.

If a leader is too weak those being taught may not follow the instructions and teachings they are given, knowing that the leader may not be following his own teachings to others, thus putting their doubt that he is a born again individual.                  

[Krissi]

This question is loaded!  The assumption is that good leadership hovers somewhere between authoritarianism and libertarianism. While this may be true, there's much more to good leadership than finding the happy middle.

I just skimmed most of the responses. One of the posters mentioned Jesus' statement that the first shall be last and the last first. The concept behind this is "servanthood." A good leaders is humble and puts the needs of those being led above his own needs. In other words, a good leader is first a servant and then a leader. One becomes a leader through serving.

Paul's phrase "to Lord it over" is an example of NOT being a servant first. Similarly, not assuming leadership but remaining only a servant is an example of not willingly maturing in Christ.

The dangers of both libertarianism and authoritarianism has to do with not understanding the role of the servant, that it's neither self-belittlement nor self-promotion at the expense of those to whom one is called to lead.