"Leadership is influence." – John Maxwell

Influence is a great one-word definition of leadership. Here's another statement John is known for:

"Whoever thinks he's leading, but has no one following, is only taking a walk!"

That line still makes me smile. It's just so true!  Leadership is not a position or a title, it's your ability to lead in such a way that others follow you in pursuit of the vision.

It doesn't matter where you are on the organizational chart. It doesn't matter what title is on your business card. True leaders have influence and can lead from wherever they are in the organization.

I'd like to challenge you with another true leadership statement:

It might seem like it's in neutral or holding about the same, but it's not. It is always (usually very slowly) increasing or decreasing. The reason it might appear to be holding at the same level is because the church is so relationally oriented, and with relationships, things move (change) slowly ... usually at a rate that is so slow it is virtually imperceptible unless you know what to look for.

I can't count how many leaders get blindsided by this. They call me and say something like: "I thought everything was fine. We were all doing great together then 'all of a sudden the wheels came off.'" I promise, it wasn't all of a sudden. It was happening for a long time but they didn't see it. Their influence was decreasing, perhaps ever so slowly, but it was.

It is possible for you to work hard and have your influence decrease. It is also possible for you to be godly and pray much and yet still experience a decrease in influence. But let me offer encouragement. In fact, I have good news for you!

The good news is twofold:

1. You can intentionally increase your influence! Take ownership of your personal leadership growth. Don't blame your boss or the environment you are in. Incredible leadership material is only a click away.

Leadership development is a lifetime pursuit, but for a great start, I recommend you read, and practice, John Maxwell's The Five Levels of Leadership.

It is also important that you get time with other sharp leaders who have more success and experience than you do. Offer to buy coffee or lunch. Come well prepared with good questions that you have written down. If you ask for one hour, don't take more than one hour. Be diligent in your effort to practice what you learn from each meeting. Even if you come away with only one transferable nugget of truth, or principle that connects with you, that is worth every minute of that meeting.

Keep in mind that while it's helpful and good for you to get specific answers to your questions, learning how that leader thinks is even more valuable. If I understand how those who mentor me think, I can translate that to dozens of other scenarios.

2. You can see evidence of your influence increasing. You don't have to remain in the dark. It's not a guessing game or something that you must wonder about. It's easy to see if your influence is increasing.

Here are some basic and practical things to look for:

• More people seek you out.
• People say yes easier and faster.
• People's loyalty toward you increases.
• More people care about what you think.
• You are trusted with greater levels of responsibility.
• More people want your opinion.
• People's trust in you as a person increases.
• Your productivity increases.
• People embrace your ideas with greater trust.
• Favor and momentum are not strangers to you.
• You get promoted.
• More people want to be on your team.

This list is not comprehensive, but you get the idea. The bottom line is that more people follow you and the potential for your church to grow (see new people follow Jesus) increases dramatically! This does not guarantee your church will become large, but increased leadership (influence) along with God's presence and power sets you up for solid growth. Of course this is not easy, but it is that simple.

It's equally important to know when your influence is decreasing. If you take the above bullet list and write the opposite for each one, you will have practical indicators to know if your influence is headed in the wrong direction.

In what direction is your leadership headed?

If it is decreasing, don't panic. Turnaround is possible! Read John's book, 5 Levels of Leadership, and have lunch with a pastor in a church a little larger than yours for some coaching. That will help you get started! Developing your leadership will take time, so stick with it.

If your influence is increasing, that's great! But don't get comfortable. Keep learning, keep growing and keep getting better.

Dan Reiland is the executive pastor at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He previously partnered with John Maxwell for 20 years, first as executive pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, then as vice president of leadership and church development at INJOY.

For the original article, visit danreiland.com.

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