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It is important to state clearly that there is this thin line of difference between authority and leadership.
Listen to Podcast: Exercising Authority in Leadership
Leadership in a very simple dictionary term talks about the power or ability to lead other people. There is this very apt definition of leadership that is all-encompassing that Peter gave us which I would love to share with us here because it summarizes what leadership is all about. 1 Peter 5:2, it says: “Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonourably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully; Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).”
Authority on the other hand is: the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. A leader without these three basic elements of leadership: ability to give orders, make decisions and enforce obedience, cannot lead a productive organizational growth. Such a leader is only a figure head or a ceremonial leader, a toothless bulldog that cannot bite. Now, authority in this context does not mean coercion or brute force. The moment you realize as a leader that you require force or coercion to compel obedience, what it simply means is that you are lacking in real authority. Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 22:25 (TPT), it says: “The kings and men of authority in this world rule oppressively (i.e., coercively, forcefully, tyrannically, harshly, repressively etc.) over their subjects, claiming that they do it for the good of the people. They are obsessed with how others see them. 26 But this is not your calling. You will lead by a different model. The greatest one among you will live as one called to serve others without honor. The greatest honor and authority are reserved for the one who has a servant heart.”
So, we have seen that authority shouldn’t be used to oppress the led. Your authority should be used in such a way that would bring about organizational progress and growth. Looking at the two words carefully: authority and leadership, it is important that we clarify the link between the two as well so that leaders can maximize all that they have within their possession towards effectiveness. I will like to use an account in the Bible to demonstrate this link so that we can have the right perspective about it. Luke 9:51-56, the Bible says: “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.”
This story simply illustrates something to us that as leaders, we have some form of authority. Leadership confers on you some levels of authority in order to be able to get certain tasks done. For example, the difference between the words of a former president and a serving president is simply the authority backing up the latter. A former president may say certain things and people may not respond or act in line with it. But a serving president says the same thing and people begin to conform to the directive because the authority of his office as the president gives him the backing to compel obedience. So, your authority in leadership is not to misfire, it is to be used towards organizational growth. The disciples in the story we read wanted to use their authority to call down fire and destroy a people but Jesus rebuked them sharply.
So, the question is: How Can You Channel Your Authority as a Leader for Productive Organizational Growth? This question is actually the crux of this podcast today. How can you meticulously use your authority for the right purposes? Let us start from this example of Jesus to see the answer.
Luke 9:1-2, 6. The Bible says: “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” The first thing we would notice here is that Jesus delegated His authority to His disciples for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God in this context could be viewed as the organization in focus. So, what then is delegated authority or delegation of authority as the case may be? It simply means: subdivision or sub-allocation of powers to the team in order to achieve effective results. The leader alone cannot perform all the tasks that are needed to be done. In order to meet the goals and set objectives, the leader should delegate authority.
Moses: a case study!
“So, the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. So, Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.”
Numbers 11:16-17, 24-25
“And so, it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So, it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.”
Exodus 18:13-27
The two books we read above gave us a practical view into what it means to delegate authority. For a leader, a time would come when the assignment would become so enlarged that only you may not be able to adequately discharge your leadership assignment. Just imagine for some moment that Jesus was the one that travelled the whole word alone all by Himself preaching the gospel of the kingdom, without the twelve apostles? How long do we probably think it would take Him before He is able to cover the entire world? Imagine also that God didn’t have to take of the Spirit upon Moses and placed upon seventy other men to assist him or that his father-in-law did not advise him to appoint judges, how long do we think Moses would last in that assignment alone if he had to be the one judging everyday from morning till night?
As a leader, you must understand that there is wisdom in delegating authority. Don’t place yourself under undue burden trying to do everything by yourself. Always look for faithful and responsible men within the organization that authority can be delegated to so that they can drive the vision, the goals and objectives of the organization. Paul said to Timothy: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). Notice Paul didn’t tell Timothy to carry out all by himself, he said to him: commit it to faithful me who will be able to teach others also. This is what delegated authority means in leadership and every leader must imbibe this ancient practice if they would ever be effective in their leadership assignment.
Alright! This is where we are going to draw the curtains on today’s episode of Leaderview. I believe you have learnt something. Please don’t forget to share this podcast with your friends, drop your comments in the comments section and let me know your thoughts on what we have shared with ourselves today. Till next time on Leaderview, stay blessed and God bless you.
Article Source: [Centre for New Dimension Leadership]
