The Surprising Truth About Leadership
It's All About Influence, Not Titles
Let’s discuss a complex word: Leadership.
When you hear terms like leader, elder, preacher, CEO, coach, or manager, what comes to mind? Do you think of someone with high status, education, or impressive credentials? Or maybe someone standing at the front of a crowd?
What if leadership isn’t about titles, education, or position at all?
What if I told you a drug dealer is a leader?
What if I told you a social media “influencer” is a leader?
Consider an “influencer” who makes videos unboxing shoes. It might seem trivial, but their content influences millions—shaping how people talk, dress, and make choices. They lead people to specific decisions through their influence.
Now, think about a drug dealer. If they convince someone to try drugs, they’re also exercising influence. They lead people to make certain choices, even if they are destructive choices.
Leadership, at its core, is about influence—nothing more, nothing less.
Many might not see a drug dealer or an “influencer” as a leader, but they are leading others in their own ways. True leadership is not confined to titles or positions. A CEO might hold a prestigious title, but that alone doesn’t make them a leader. Effective leadership requires genuine influence and action.
Will you please try this fruit?
Let’s visit a familiar story about Adam and Eve. The full story can be found in Genesis 2 and 3, but I will be paraphrasing.
God planted a garden in Eden and put Adam in it. In the garden, there were trees for food, the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam, "You can eat from all the trees but the tree of knowledge of good and evil; if you do, you will die."
Remember, Eve is not in the garden yet, and the rule is to not eat of the tree of knowledge. It would appear that it is Adam's responsibility to communicate this rule to Eve. He needed to lead or influence her to not eat and avoid death.
Then God made Eve from Adam's rib because none of the animals there were a helper comparable to him. Then a cunning serpent enters the story, questioning Eve if God had really said to not eat of every tree of the garden.
Eve responds they can eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but not of the tree of knowledge. She responds, "God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
Now remember, God told Adam not to eat it. Eve says it cannot be eaten or touched. (We are short on details in the story. But what occurred here? Did God add more requirements - Don’t touch? I think this seems unlikely because God says don’t eat twice (Genesis 2:17, 3:17) with no restriction on touching. What seems more likely is there is some sort of miscommunication between Adam and Eve. Maybe Adam added the requirement to not touch. Maybe Adam exaggerated the rule and added not to touch. Maybe Eve misunderstood the rule. What we do know is that because of whatever happened Eve was vulnerable to deception by the serpent.)
The serpent tells Eve she would not die but would actually be better and like God.
What happened here? The serpent led/influenced Eve to sin against God.
Then Eve led/influenced her husband to eat the fruit and sin against God.
Adam blames Eve.
Eve blames the serpent.
God tells Adam that because he listened to the voice of Eve (fell to her influence) and ate of the tree of knowledge, the ground would be cursed.
This story highlights how influence can lead to significant consequences. Adam and Eve’s choices have far-reaching effects, showing that influence—whether positive or negative—can shape actions and outcomes.
What does this tell us?
Anyone can influence or lead us. It is not limited to those with a title or high positions.
The influence (or leadership) can be positive or negative. Our actions and words can either uplift or harm others. Adam could have helped Eve not eat the fruit. Eve chose to lead Adam to eat the fruit.
Leadership as Influence
Recognizing that leadership is influence helps us see that everyone is a leader in some capacity. We are all influencing others, whether we realize it or not.
(This is not a discussion on the role of men and women in relationships or the church. There are clearly requirements for church leadership, church roles, and relationships. This is simply stating we are all leading someone.)
· A mom might influence her children and husband.
· A child might influence their friends.
· A manager might lead their team.
· An Elder might influence the church.
· A friend might impact another friend.
Who are you leading? Who is leading you?
Recognizing that leadership is influence can change how we view our interactions.
· Who are you leading knowingly or unknowingly each day?
· Are you leading those people in a positive, neutral, or negative way?
· Are you leading people closer or further from God?
· Are you guiding others to be more optimistic or pessimistic?
· Are you inspiring others to achieve more or achieve less?
What about the influence on you?
· Who leads you knowingly or unknowingly?
· How are they influencing you?
· Is some “influencer” leading you?
· Is the media influencing your views on world events?
· Is the entertainment industry influencing your preferences and attitudes?
Are you leading or taking a walk?
Here is a leadership proverb: "He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk."
If we believe we are leading but aren’t making positive change, we are not truly leading.
If my children are not reflecting my values and example, I am not really leading them.
If my employees are not getting results, I am not really leading them.
If my preaching is not impactfully changing people’s lives, I am not really leading.
If a church is not following the teaching and example of the Elder, he is not really leading.
If I think I am leading others and I look back and no one is following me, I am just taking a walk.
Are you taking a walk? Or are you leading people somewhere meaningful?