Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others to follow his or her lead. Famous leaders have always known this.

The great military leader Bernard Montgomery spoke of leadership in these terms: “Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose, and the character which inspires confidence.” An outstanding example of this statement was Sir Winston Churchill, leader of Britain during World War II.

Fleet Admiral Nimitz said: “Leadership may be defined as that quality that inspires sufficient confidence in subordinates as to be willing to accept his views and carry out his commands.”

General Charles Gordon once asked Li Hung Chang, a leader in China, two questions: “What is leadership? And how is humanity divided?” Li Hung replied: “There are only three kinds of people—those who are immovable, those who are movable, and those who move them!” Leaders move others.

John R. Mott, a world leader in student ministries, believed that “a leader is a man who knows the road, who can keep ahead, and who pulls others after him.”

P. T. Chandapilla, an Indian student leader, defined Christian leadership as a vocation that blends both human and divine qualities in a harmony of ministry by God and His people for the blessing of others.

President Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) said cogently: “A leader is a person who has the ability to get others to do what they don’t want to do, and like it.”

Spiritual leadership blends natural and spiritual qualities. Yet even the natural qualities are supernatural gifts, since all good things come from God. Take personality, for instance. Montgomery said that “the degree of influence will depend on the personality, the ‘incandescence’ of which the leader is capable, the flame which burns within, the magnetism which will draw the hearts of others toward him.” Both natural and spiritual qualities reach their greatest effectiveness when employed in the service of God and for His glory.

Yet spiritual leadership transcends the power of personality and all other natural gifts. The personality of the spiritual leader influences others because it is penetrated, saturated, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. As the leader gives control of his life to the Spirit, the Spirit’s power flows through him to others.

Spiritual leadership requires superior spiritual power, which can never be generated by the self. There is no such thing as a self-made spiritual leader. A true leader influences others spiritually only because the Spirit works in and through him to a greater degree than in those he leads.

We can lead others only as far along the road as we ourselves have traveled. Merely pointing the way is not enough. If we are not walking, then no one can be following, and we are not leading anyone.

At a large meeting of mission leaders in China, the discussion turned to leadership and its qualifications. The debate was vigorous. But through it all, one person sat quietly listening. Then the chair asked if D. E. Hoste, general director of China Inland Mission, had an opinion. The auditorium became still.

With a twinkle in his eye, Hoste said in his high-pitched voice: “It occurs to me that perhaps the best test of whether one is qualified to lead, is to find out whether anyone is following.”