You Can't Divorce Leadership from Relationships (Colossians 3:18 - 4:6)

Extracted from The Maxwell Leadership Bible

Paul spends a lot of time in Colossia discussing relationships, a paramount concern for leaders. Leadership is about relationships. Consider three levels of leadership:

1. Leaders can impress others from a distance.
The requires the will of the leader. The leader must determine to perform excellently.

2. Leaders can influence others if they get a bit closer.
This requires the will of the followers. They must choose to emulate the leader.

3. Leaders can impact others only in close relationship.
This requires both the will of the leader and the follower. It occurs when intimacy and trust develop.

Paul begins his instruction on relationships with the home (Col. 3:18-21). Then he moves outward to colleagues, to masters and slaves (3:22-4:4). Finally, he addresses relationships with outsiders (4:5,6).

God has placed everyone within a chain of care. Leaders are to connect with followers, from parenting, to supervising, to evangelising. These circles of relationship serve as proving grounds, and giving credibility to the next. When we lead well in the home, we gain credibility to be heard in the marketplace. If it doesn't work at home, don't export it! Success is gaining the respect of those who know us best.