Teaching Leadership

By Doug Franklin September 12, 2012

As developers of leaders, what content should we be using to help our followers learn leadership? Should we use the latest book from a mega-pastor or maybe a book from a dead theologian? I think there are lots of good information in these books, but if we want our followers to grow as leaders we need to teach them leadership principles. It’s no different than teaching math or cooking; we must focus on the principles that make up the topic. So with leadership we teach: strategic planning, vision casting, intentional communication, risk taking, problem solving and list goes on and on. If we don’t focus on these principles we will never give our followers a firm foundation in leadership or the skills they need to lead.

Take a good look at your leadership program; have you placed a strong focus on leadership principles? Ask yourself “what is the greatest need of my young leaders?” I am going to guess here, but I bet they struggle the most with leading. I bet your young leaders are having a hard time leading projects and people. If they don’t know and understand leadership principles they will just be mimics.