Exchange theory of leadership: push vs pull

Contemporary leadership theory is substantially about driving. It presupposes that the energy of the leader can energize the organisation, whether that energy is nervous, vital or passionate. The bible does not support that perspective.

In Romans 8, Paul compares the leading of the flesh to the leading of the Spirit. The former refers to carnal or hedonistic pursuits, including drivers like instinct, nervous energy or the ego. Such forces do drive behavior, the way that empires were built around the impulse of great leaders. Unfortunately, whatever they built failed to stand up to another, irresistibly greater force.

In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul compared wood, hay and stubble with gold, silver and precious stones. He argues that building with either will be tried by fire – a metaphor for human struggle. Gold, silver and precious stones will stand as they are all products of great heat, will stand, but wood, hay and stubble will be consumed.

Sailing illustrates these points. A sail set to capture a tail wind, exploits the brute force of the wind, but that is rarely where sailing comes into its own, for tailwinds are transient. It takes more skill to tack the boat across the wind and trim the sail so that the wind can pull the boat along.

The aerodynamic principle involved is analogous to being led by the Spirit, for good leadership of our own lives and the lives we influence is more about tapping into the compelling energy of God. His creative will formed the earth, drew history towards the climax of Calvary and now draws this age to its own climax. That same energy founded the church and sustained it, as kingdoms came and went and empires rose or fell.

Leaders who harness that force and shape their followers to engage the forward momentum of God’s kingdom, will build on rock and use gold, silver and precious stone to achieve outcomes that will transcend the course of humanity or history.

Time and again I see leaders sweating and toiling to build churches, organisations or their personal legacies, but that will never compare with the unforced approach of Jesus who built the church on relationships not resources, shepherding not cow-herding, humility not grandstanding, drawing not shoving, and discipleship not instruction. He single-mindedly built according to the patterns received from His Father, as Moses did when he descended Mount Horeb.

Part of my argument relates to the need for individuals to respect that the organisation is always bigger than the individual and is endowed with a life and momentum of its own. It pays to engage that and not work against it. I once had a boss who insisted that his department should be guided by market share, whilst I insisted that it be guided by the need and stimulus of the organisation. I argued so, because I believe in stewardship and the value of the whole, the team. However, there will always be those who believe that leadership is more about individualism and heroism – which, sadly, has hurt many lesser and greater leaders, including giants like Moses and David.

(c) Peter Eleazar @ www.4u2live.net