Leader as Philosopher

A discerning leader is aware of what drives them to do things. They have developed some kind of philosophy that shapes their actions, thinking and way of life. Spiritual leaders do not conduct themselves like those of the world do. This is because they study the life and ministry of Jesus to determine what principles and values should influence their leadership style. Unlike so many leaders today, with the go-get-it attitude, Christian leaders have been called by God to act differently by applying filters to their decision-making. Perhaps you could follow one particular course of action, but a good leader stops to think, “How will this affect my people and the others with whom I lead?” It seems obvious that leaders should take into account the lives of others, but sadly that is often not the case. We must not just read and learn about how to follow Jesus and lead his people; we must put it into practice.

I like that philosopher means, “lover of wisdom” and not simply “lover of knowledge.” We had previously learned about leader as first grader, with the inherent thirst for and delight in knowledge for knowledge’s sake. But there is something more to wisdom. It is applied, or as Brian put it, practical knowledge. There is a putting two and two together with wisdom. Knowledge is fact and information, but there is a power that comes with having and using wisdom. I feel like this is one of the great treasures of a believer and something that I long to have abundantly increase as I continue to grow in my relationship with Jesus. Having your mind opened by God and your eyes unveiled to the realities and intricacies of life is incredible. And it is something that I believe God does for a believer (and especially a leader) purposefully. Philosophers are more than first-graders in that they do not simply read the works of others, but they critically contemplate and consider them, with an ultimate motive of synthesizing their own philosophy. To me, they are more active thinkers, going beyond mere voracious knowledge consumption to relating what they learn. As Christian philosophers, we get to apply the Word to our situations, relying on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to help us use what we’ve learned for the good of those we lead and encounter in our lives.

The whole discussion about EQ was really insightful. You don’t hear intelligence talked about in this way usually. At least I haven’t, being a recent natural science scholar. It makes me think of how upside down this world’s (and my own) perception of intellect has been. I’m the kind of person who brushes my emotions aside and probably ends up looking like the characteristic cold and distant philosopher. I’ve discovered, by God’s grace however, the tremendous importance of building one’s emotional intelligence. My relationships with friends and family have shown me the deficit I often had in this regard, thankfully until relatively recently. It was coming to know Jesus, though, that planted those seeds of sensitivity that later I would see grow into genuine concern for others. It is still a struggle for me to maintain emphasis on EQ rather than IQ, perhaps because of my #5 personality type and just the nature of how I was brought up. Being a leader in the Walk reinforces this necessary emphasis because middle schoolers crave relationship and emotional bonds, not savvy arguments and impressive words.

I found the 4 stages of EQ development helpful in identifying where I am at. I believe that I am able to perceive/sense emotion (in myself and others) and even reason through it. However, I encounter a block when it comes to understanding emotion and why it’s happening. This makes it very difficult to manage emotion and the dynamics it creates in human relations. My relationship with my fiancé is probably the best example, where I find myself feeling a certain way (ie: upset) and not entirely knowing why.

The knowledge square made a lot of sense to me by categorizing it. This brought to the surface the gifts that community, confession and prayer are. God has provided a way for his followers and his leaders to healthily deal with issues such as one’s blind spots and facades. It challenges me to seriously assess my own pretenses and ignorance, seeking the face of God to expose me and mold me for the better. Of the ways to grow in EQ I feel that it will be most difficult for me to establish mechanisms of feedback. The reason being is I’m such a private person and I don’t take criticism very well. Living in what was supposed to be “community” has definitely demonstrated this personality flaw. Strangely, I have a longing for precisely that – a network of close people whom I trust that can call me out in love. I know the Spirit is our counselor and convict-er, but I also see the immense value in community as a God-enabled and God-supported means by which one another is spiritually edified and disciplined.