LEADERSHIP & THE ROAD TO CONVERGENCE
Last week, we discussed transformation as it pertains to leadership. From our discussion we realized that when we say transformation leadership, we are referring to a change process which is not linear but a change in form, state, fashion, shape, appearance or figure. This type of leadership does not simply meet a caterpillar and influence that caterpillar to be a smarter, better, faster, bigger or influential caterpillar. No, rather the influence of such leadership brings about a change in state, form etc.—a transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, a maggot to a beetle, a mere living soul to a life giving spirit.
But how do leaders get to this stage where their leadership yields tangible results in a transformational way?
THE MAKING OF A LEADER
In preceding weeks, we have discussed much of this when we discussed the principles requisite for fulfilling vision. What we have not discussed however is an essential component described as emergence and convergence by leadership expert Robert Clinton in his seminal book, “The Making of a Leader, Second Edition: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development”.
For six years he had been researching and teaching the answers to specific questions on leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary's School of World Mission in Pasadena, California. The questions which have culminated in the aforementioned books are:
- What does it take to become the leader God wants you to be?
- What are the processes, the cost, and the result?
The unique thing about the approach used by this academic is the focus on “biblical insights into the patterns and processes God uses to develop a leader … Those who study patterns and processes, and use insights from them in life and ministry, will be better prepared leaders. My students and I have studied hundreds of lives from three categories of leaders: historic, biblical, and contemporary. As we've compared findings from these studies, we've gained insights that are transferable to other leaders' lives, including our own”.
From the above, Dr. Clinton has come up with a system to help “identify, label, define, and suggest ways to use these insights in the process of selection and training of leaders”.
WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?
“Leadership is a dynamic process in which a man or woman with God-given capacity influences a specific group of God's people toward His purposes for the group.' This is contrary to the popular notion that a leader must have a formal position, a formal title, or formal training. Many who are called to lead in church or parachurch organizations may not have formal titles such as pastor or director. They may be Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, or lay people functioning in any number of other leadership capacities. To be considered a leader, one does not require a professional position nor need to be a “full-time Christian worker””—Robert Clinton “The Making of a Leader, Second Edition: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development”.
Initially Dr. Clinton’s research focused on professional Christian leaders, “that is, leaders who are paid to lead-full-time pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and nationals who direct mission organizations, lead denominations, establish Bible schools, and teach in seminaries” but later extended it to leaders without a formal position, a formal title, or formal training.
The patterns and processes he unearthed for development for professional leaders were applicable to nonprofessional leaders.[1] Now, what is leadership development? According to Robert Clinton, “Development includes all of life's processes, not just formal training. Leaders are shaped by deliberate training and by experience”.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING VERSUS LEADERSHIP EMERGENCE
The work of Dr. Clinton also encapsulates Leadership emergence as well as Leadership training. They are not the same thing. The latter is a subset of the former.
“Leadership training refers to a narrow part of the overall process, focusing primarily on learning skills. Leadership emergence includes this but much more. Hence “Leadership emergence, is a much broader term than leadership training”—Robert Clinton. “The Making of a Leader, Second Edition: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development”
SUMMARY
The entire work of Dr. Robert (Bobby) J. Clinton is crystalized into the following diagram.
All the phases culminate in Convergence. Convergence takes place in a leader’s life when giftedness, role, and influence come into alignment with experience, personality, formation, opportunity, and destiny.[2] “[C]onvergence in a leader’s life occurs when key factors meet (converge) at a point in time to produce a synergistic effect that moves the leader’s level of ministry effectiveness to a new and more fruitful level. It typically occurs when a leader’s giftedness (natural abilities, acquired skills, and spiritual gifts) matches a role that is assigned or created which allows for maximum capacity of effectiveness and fruitfulness. The central task for moving an individual toward convergence is providing the kinds of reflective experiences that will move them toward sharper focus and maximum effectiveness – toward releasing what is good to embrace what is best”.[3]
In subsequent weeks, we will deconstruct the above and study the patterns and processes that make leaders.
[1] As per Robert Clinton, “These nonprofessional leaders work as volunteers in local churches or small organizations. They usually have not received any formal training in Christian leadership”.
[2] Clinton, Dr. J. Robert. Leadership Emergence Theory. (Altadena, California: Barnabas Resources, 1989), 381.
[3] Flynn, James T. Theological Reflection as a Catalyst for Leadership Convergence Through the D.Min. Dissertation, The Journal of Christian Ministry 2011 vol: No 3 (2011): Multiculturalism and Doctor of Ministry Education
