Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to

influence others
The key to successful organization transformation is
"leadership, leadership, and still more leadership
The primary goal of a leader is to produce more
leaders
According to John Maxwell (1995), the greatest
leadership principle that I have learned in over twenty-
five years of leadership is that those closest to the
leader will determine the success level of that leader
Leadership is the nucleus of all managerial and
administrative activities.
Leadership for all managerial responsibilities includes:
1. To envision and direct
2. To strengthen
3. To set and enforce absolute standards of behavior, attitude,
presentation and performance,
4. To see things through to completion
5. To encircle themselves with expertise so that any gaps in their
own capacities are filled.
John Adair, British management trainer and author talks about
leadership in a short course:
The six most important words " I admit I made a mistake."
The five most important words "I am proud of you."
The four most important words "What is your opinion?"
The three most important words "If you please"
The two most important words "Thank You"
The one most important word "We"
The least most important word "I"
Understanding how people learn: People have a
consistent way of learning called the learning cycle. It
begins from a foundation of life experience. This is
what people currently know and where a leader
should begin interaction. With the provision of new
information, people proceed to reflection. Based on
this reflection, people make decisions. Finally, for
change to occur, action must result from the decision.
This action then leads to more life experience and the
cycle continues. A wise leader understands this and
tries to stimulate reflection, decisions, and action to
help people grow.
Facilitation: The definition of facilitation is to
make easy. Instead of providing the answer, a
facilitator helps people find their own answers.
This is typically done with skillful questions.
Communication: Great leaders are masters of
communication and seem to be able to find just
the right metaphor that clarifies the idea and
minimizes distortion . They use stories,
metaphors, rites, rituals or any other tool to
effectively communicate the vision and values to
followers.
Contextualization: While people use the same
learning processes, their cultural norms and
understanding may be quite different. This is true
even within a culture, for example, between older
and younger generations. A good leader uses
message and methods that make sense to the
people he is talking with.
Peacemaking: Anytime people are in relationships,
there is the potential for conflict. Dealing with
conflict is one of the most fatiguing responsibilities
for leaders.
Winston Churchill on becoming Prime Minister said, " I
am the leader. Therefore I must serve.
Napoleon Bonaparte once articulated " A leader is a
dealer in hope.
Bill Gates " Leaders will be those who empower others
Empowering leadership means bringing out the energy
and capabilities people have and getting them to work
together in a way they wouldnt do otherwise.
Good leaders do not use fear as a tool. The most
effective leader is the one who satisfies the psychological
needs of his followers.- David Ogilvy
Facilitation might be considered an advanced form
of collaboration; it is clearly an important strength
of leaders
An effective facilitator is a leader, a follower, a
collaborator, and a servant to the group. Like
collaboration, facilitation can be learned only
through experience. It is both a behavior and a
mental process, demanding parallel monitoring of
several different processes occurring
simultaneously during teamwork sessions.
The ideal Collaborative Leader is a Facilitator the Facilitator is
THE ROLE MODEL for a Collaborative Leader
Competencies for a leader to be a facilitator:
1. The effective Leader or Facilitator understands the group and
builds a relationship that enables everyone to work
collaboratively.
2. Both the Facilitator and the Leader need to define processes
how to solve problems , how to communicate, how to be
creative, how to think strategically, etc. A group without effective
processes to follow will flounder. Effective Facilitators or Leaders
dont give answers; they provide processes that enable the group
to arrive at appropriate answers. By doing so, the Facilitator or
Leader gains the benefit of the collective mind of the group.
3. To gain the advantage of the collective mind of the group,
everyone must participate. To be truly collaborative and fully
utilize the process, a Facilitator or Leader must engage the
entire group. Listening, intervening in crisis, building trust,
and embracing diversity in every way all work towards gaining
total participation. When only some of the group participates,
all suffer and all lose something good ideas, support, or
belonging.
4. More than anything, Facilitators and Leaders guide the group
through the process. The group must do work and it must be
the right work. Setting the appropriate vision, using the right
tools, and ensuring that the process is adjusted as needed
help groups produce an outcome of value.
5. Both Facilitators and Leaders need to know their business. Both need
to understand the terrain they are dealing with. Continuing to learn
is important for both and keeping abreast of the industry in which
they work is critical. Otherwise, a Facilitator or a Leader becomes
stale. In knowing the terrain, both must become familiar with the
group, the issues, and the organization.
6. Both Facilitators and Leaders set the example whether they want to
or not. The group looks to the Facilitator or Leader.

This means that a Facilitator is a Collaborative Leader a temporary
task Leader. Whenever a group needs a neutral Leader or a task
crosses organizational boundaries a temporary Leader is required.
That is the role of a Facilitator. What a Facilitator does and how it is
done is the same as a Leader.
The Mission of a Collaborative Leader/Facilitator is to:
Enable,
Make it possible,
Make it easier for the group being led to:
define their vision,
communicate effectively,
feel part of the whole, and
successfully achieve their vision.

Being a Leader and being a Manager is not the same. Leader is a role.
Manager is a job. One can be both. Good Managers are effective Leaders
but not all Leaders are Managers. Likewise, Facilitator is a role the same
role as Leader. One may argue with neutrality but the greatest Leaders
were great because they listened to their people and articulated visions and
directions that were in line with what they heard
Agree on goals and expectations with members when starting a
small group.
Depending on the type of meeting, appropriately create an
atmosphere of community. Examples include time for prayer,
singing, fellowship, meals, and/or personal ministry.
Pray for group members each week. God is the one who
ultimately produces learning.
Personally model what you are teaching to the group.
Try to gain participation from everyone at each meeting so that
no one dominates.
Share group responsibilities so that you do not have the whole
burden. This is the way to develop other leaders.
Sit in a circle at meetings so that everyone feels equally
important.
Feel free to be fun and creative in communication methods.
Examples include skits, games, pictures, etc.
Find ways to show practical care for group members in between
meetings. This may be a phone call, visit, or other show of personal
interest.
Be considerate by starting and ending meetings on time. If people
have special questions or needs, they can be attended after others
have been given a chance to leave.
Share your own needs with the group.
Admit it when you dont know the answer to a question and
commit to finding the answer.
Periodically review this leaders guide and other materials on
leadership/facilitation.
Transparently evaluate with members the small groups progress
and satisfaction.