If your cause is good enough, will people automatically follow? (79-2)
A common mistake leaders make is they think if a cause (their vision) is good enough people will automatically follow. People generally buy into the leader first and then if that leader has a worthy cause, they buy into the leader’s vision. If people initially jump on board because of a worthy cause, unless the leader is worthy there is no loyalty to the leader’s vision. It is never an either or proposition; the leader and the cause always go together. Read Judges 6:11-8:35.
When the Lord called Gideon he asked “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Despite Gideon’s doubts, God used him. The people rallied around Gideon, and he led Israel to the most lopsided victory in the nation’s history. In The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Maxwell writes about Gideon and the Law of Buy-in.
The Anatomy of Buy-in
Gideon progressed from being an obscure member of a minor clan to a leader of the northern tribes. He grew as a leader through several stages:
Started at home (character)
A good leader first proves himself to those closest to him. Gideon started with ten household servants. With their help, he destroyed an altar of Baal, built a new altar to God, and offered the sacrifice requested by God.
Won a key influencer (charisma)
The men of Ophrah grew furious with Gideon when they discovered he had destroyed Baal’s altar. “Bring out your son,” they ordered his father, Joash, “that he may die” (Judges 6:30). Yet Gideon won over a powerful ally in his father. Joash stood up for his son and spared Gideon’s life.
Broadened his circle (credibility)
Gideon won over his city by winning the influence of Joash, then quickly won the allegiance of the Abiezrites (the people of his region), along with tribes beyond his borders: Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali. Even the people of Ephraim joined him. Once a core group of people buy in to your leadership, it’s possible to broaden your circle of influence.
Moved at the right time (culmination)
So many people bought into Gideon’s leadership that God had to send a bunch of them home (Judges 7:2). God reduced the number of Gideon’s followers to 300. Yet when they fought under Gideon’s leadership, they won a great victory – and God received the glory.
Where is your team buying into your leadership and vision and what areas seem to lack support? Which of the areas above have you neglected?
Tags: Buy-in, Character, Charisma, Credibility
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Comments (1)
In the last 2000 years since the inception of the Bible, people have seen leaders come and go. Some of these leaders have been clerics, politicians, corporate heads and mere community activists with a passion for a singular cause. Our current social landscape not only expanded the keys to effective leadership, it altered how people respond to leadership–effective or otherwise. Business marketer Seth Godin once said, “…If you want to have an impact, all you can do is lead. You can’t ask.” This one statement dismantles the conventional wisdom of traditional leadership models, which are full of bromides requiring aspiring leaders to test the water before leaping. Effective leaders, generally, and charismatic leaders, specifically, wield a high level of psychic power, because they latch onto a compelling idea and ride it until the masses finally discover its viability. If the contemporary leader had to wait for the populous to decide what is the best direction, best product or best service, there would be no innovations. Great breakthroughs are often counterintuitive. Sigmund Freud talked about the irrationality of individuals and his nephew, Edward Bernays, built the Public Relations industry around this same notion. To truly lead requires a boldness and brashness so acute that one would label the practitioner insane.
Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute
http://www.charismatoday.blogspot.com