Written by: gfesadmin on October 26, 2012

Nohria’s chapter on Identity-Based Leaders Development was to say the least, a thought provoking read. For one thing, it continually forced me to slow down and digest bits of poignant thought all along the way. However, another reason this chapter gripped me is because up to this point, we have discussed such topics as Society and the Public Sphere, Capitalism, Marxism, Critical Thinking and Theology to name a few. But the focus of our being together over the better part of three years is to address the Spiritual Formation of Leaders from a global perspective.

While we have yet to truly engage in that specific conversation, some of us actually have begun such dialogue informally. During our Monday chat sessions, those of us from North America have introduced, or perhaps interjected the conversation of our upcoming Presidential election and all of the drama it brings with it every four years. Now, the conversation is drama mainly because of what people are willing to say, but more because of what they are not willing to say openly.

The worst thing is, I’m not only talking about the bantering and posturing from “worldly people.” Some of the most malicious, personally villainizing and disrespectful characterizations of our President and the Office of the President are absolutely unthinkable. When I was growing up, whoever held the Office of the President of the United States was not only treated with respect, but regardless of one’s personal views and feelings about the person holding the office, that person was OUR President.

This is not the case in America today. As Americans we are more polarized around the issues of race, gender and unresolved wounds of the past that one’s association with a political party or preferred news channel makes it easy to camouflage our true feelings unless we are with others who hold similar views. These attitudes are not ones that Christians should harbor nor allow to continue feaster beneath the surface.

Allow me to digress for a moment. My aim is not to merely point fingers, because I like many other Americans have had my piece to say as well. However, I write today as a man of God who has been under conviction. For one thing, this present tone between Christians has to cease for the sake of what it means for one to belong to Christ. But secondly, from a leadership perspective, because of those who look up to us and catch a glimpse of who they hope to become. We have been called and therefore, entrusted to mentor and better yet, help to spiritually form these lives.

In that spirit, Dallas Willard defines Spiritual formation in the tradition of Jesus Christ as “the process of transformation of the inmost dimension of the human being, the heart, which is the same as the spirit or will. It is being formed in such a way that its natural expression comes to be the deeds of Christ done in the power of Christ.

My own definition of is stated in this way, Spiritual Formation involves the growth of the whole person: the mind, body, heart, and spirit all being transformed through the Holy Spirit into the living image of Christ on earth for the benefit of others. I’m not exactly sure where this definition comes from. Although I am sure that it is a compilation of borrowed fragments from other definitions.

In chapter 22,  Nohria states, “a compelling argument that the development of leadership skills is inextricably integrated with the development of the person’s self-concept as a leader is emerging.” He further postulates that, “our objective in this chapter is to consolidate and extend this burgeoning line of thinking under the label identity-based leader development.”

Another important point that is made here is that managers actually learn leadership skills by observation and practice, this is in direct contrast to earlier research that suggested that leaders are born with special gifts that the rest of us lack. Nohria maintains that, “Professional identities are claimed and granted in social interaction and evolve over time with varied experiences and meaningful feedback that allow people to gain insight about their central and enduring preferences, talents, and values.” This is a valuable distinction because it means that leaders learn most from direct work experiences. Directly providing spiritual work experiences is also how spiritual leaders are formed.

  Another important argument that Nohria raises in this chapter is that of the self-concept. Self-concept is a person’s possible-self, the images an individual has about who he or she might become, would like to become, or fears becoming in the future. The author suggests that identity change is the result of images of future selves acting as attention screens and motivational devices, shaping one’s interpretations of, and responses to, unfolding opportunities or constraints, and serving as incentives for future behavior.

  Nrohria argues that, “possible selves are a critical part of leader development because they provide a structure around which relevant knowledge can be organized and provide the motivation to seek out developmentally relevant opportunities. This is a great point, because the possible self is what powers one’s imagination and initiative to want to become or to dare to become. Perhaps this is what the apostle Paul had in mind when he said in Philippians 2:13, it is God at work in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.

 Nuriaus is also correct when he points out that the counter balance is also a powerful influence in shaping the future as well. I wonder if that extra little nudge that is needed for the development of powerful leadership to emerge is the presence of a mentor and her positive feedback. In other words, if the environment presents more constraints than positives, but the apprentice leader has the added benefit of a positive role model who encourages his protégé to persist until they become serve as the X factor? Imagine the little girl in India who doesn’t have a Pappa or a Becky who champions her to become. Or consider the Black and Hispanic child that doesn’t have the Martin Luther King Jr. Cesar Chavez or yes, even Barak Obama to serve as a catalyst for their dreams. Imagine if the constraints of politics and Non-Christian worldly attitudes prevail.

 What happens if spiritual formation for these is polluted by the toxic environment that we their role models have created, so that conflict and constraint are what’s left to inform their possible-selves? How many of these potential leaders can we afford to lose?

Here are the questions we must consider today. What happens if we continue along this same path? What if the only ‘Christian’ role models that the world knew were those that lived and behaved in a fashion resembling them? How would this behavior affect the careers and more importantly Kingdom trajectory of those we are mentoring in “spiritual formation?

At a minimum, I suggest that we hinder them with a sort of schizophrenia that plagues our current leadership landscape. Leaders that use ‘god-speak’ which equates to all the right things to say publicly and even perhaps that make the message palatable for public consumption, but in the end it is what it is, an attitude and mindset steeped in the present culture’s fears. Admittedly, we all have them. Unfortunately, for most of us, these fears are so repressed that we have not gotten quiet enough in spirit to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Howard Thurman, a prolific writer, professor at Boston University and longtime mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would say it this way, ‘we haven’t gotten centered enough for the Holy to shed light on this dark area of life.’ Yet, as true Christian leaders, ones that are called to literally be Christ in the world must live and speak Christ to the world. I wonder are we the change that we’ve been waiting for?

The scriptures teach us that as Christians we are to live in the world, but not to be of the world. That is to say, as Romans 12:2 characterizes, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of the world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.” (GNT). I maintain that this is what we as Christians really need. Not our allegiance to a Republican or a Democrat! We ought to be governed in every facet of our lives through a “Knowing” in our minds that we have dual citizenship, both in the world and God’s Kingdom.

About the Author

gfesadmin