Identity Driven Transformational
Leadership
Introduction
Have you ever wondered what a caterpillar thinks? One day
he goes into a coma and emerges as a beautiful butterfly. He is now expressing
his true identity that had been covered as a caterpillar. Yet a shadow of what
he was still remains, in what the Bible calls the “flesh”, old habitual patterns
of thought or psychological scripts that need to be transformed in Christ. We
all struggle with the pull of the flesh which tempts us to rely on old thought
patterns. Patterns we have been set free from in Christ. This marks the core
challenge of leadership, to serve and influence others as opposed to a reliance
on self to control others. (see Luke 22:23-30)
The leader’s personal spiritual identity transformation is the foundation of
Identity Driven Transformational Leadership. The realm of leadership begins in
the theater of the mind or in the theater of your thoughts. Paul writing to the
Roman Church reminds them that they need not be conformed to this age
(traditional command and control styles of leading others), but to be
transformed by the renewing of the mind. (see Romans 12:1-2)
Clark Kent illustrates the dilemma of leading from the center of who you are in
Christ. Clark Kent had an earthly identity as a reporter for the Daily Planet,
however his true identity was Superman. The church at Corinth was experiencing a
similar dilemma. He reminded them that they have borne the image of the man of
dust and they also bear the image of the heavenly man. (see I Corinthians 15:
47-49) The church a Corinth was experiencing an identity crisis and was in need
of an identity transformation.
Clark Kent had an earthly identity and also had a heavenly identity. This is the
same for you. You have an earthly identity as well as a heavenly identity or who
you really are in Christ. This identity change you experience is a process
empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is the condition or process of being the same
or exactly like Christ, or the condition or process of being the same as another
person, that person being Christ.
In Christ, you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). You are created in His
image (Genesis 1:27), and you are intimately known by God (Galatians 4:9). You
accepted in Christ (Ephesians 1:6), complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), and in
Christ you are royalty (Revelation 5:10) You are free from condemnation (Romans
8:1-2), and you are seated with Christ in the heavens. (Ephesians 2:6) This is
who you are in Christ.
“In Christ”, is a phrase used more than 180 times in the New Testament, mainly
in the writings of Paul. The phrase forms the heart of Paul’s theology and
becomes the heart of Christianity. The phrase carries with it the grammatical
dimensions of fixed location, sphere and possession. In other words, you have
been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of
Christ. (Colossians 1:13) And according to Paul, you have been baptized into
Christ and your identity has been permanently transformed or changed in Christ.
(Romans 6:3-4) This is the cornerstone of being transformed into the image of
Jesus. In reference to leadership, this is the position from which all attempts
you take to influence others will find strength.
In my research, I discovered three levels of leadership influence, (1) identity
– values, experience, self-perceptions and identity in Christ, (2)
transformational – moving people forward to reach their God given potential, and
(3) transactional – mere exchange. Identity driven transformational leadership
is based on seven principles from the Word of God and seven principles from
leadership research. The frequency of occurrence of these qualities will
determine the level of productivity and satisfaction within a work group or
organization. According to research the higher the frequency of these behaviors
in an organization, the higher the level of productivity.
Leading from your identity in Christ proved statistically significant in several
categories of leadership influence– accountability, perspective, motivation,
synergy, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, contingent reward,
and laissez-faire. Even the science of statistics filtered out the importance of
identity in leadership effectiveness. However, identity in Christ was not
statistically significant in the following areas – vision, idealized influence,
individualized consideration and management-by-exception. Power and humility
were not statistically measured. Each of these leadership qualities will be
discussed and explained
I. Seven Identity Driven
Leadership Disciplines:
Accountability
Power
Vision
Perspective
Motivation
Humility
Synergy
II. Seven Transformational Leadership
Qualities:
A.
Four
Transformational Leadership Qualities:
Idealized
Influence-Worldview
Individualized Consideration-Authenticity
Inspirational
Motivation-Passion
Intellectual
Stimulation-Innovation
B.
Three
Transactional Leadership Qualities:
Contingent Reward-Praise
Management-by-Exception Trust
Laissez-Faire-Involvement
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Narrative Summary - Identity Driven Transformational Leadership
Identity in Christ and Leadership Effectiveness Doctoral Dissertation
What is Transformational Leadership