If you are an adult, chances are actually quite good that you are a leader. But before we get to that, why is it even necessary to know if I am one or not? To answer that, we need to understand a couple of things regarding leadership.

What is leadership? Where is it required? Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Or, to put it differently, inspiring others towards a vision. Leadership, therefore, consists of a vision, a team, a process that will be followed by the team towards the achieving the vision and, of course, the leader.

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality

Warren G Bennis

Now think about where leadership is obviously required. Like when I am in charge of a team of people at my work or perhaps at my church or charity. In such a case, you would have been appointed by your boss to lead a team to accomplish a goal. It would, therefore, make sense for you as the leader, to know what the goal or vision is and to be able to take the team forward to achieve it.

But a less obvious example is parenthood. Have you thought that being a parent puts you in charge of taking your family as a team towards some or other vision? Do you have a vision for your family? Something you want your family to be one day? Do you think you can be better equipped to lead your family towards your vision?

Another less obvious example of where leadership is required, is when you have a vision for a group of people, and feel called (not appointed as in your work or as a parent) to lead them towards it. Perhaps you have a vision for your extended family or your community.

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.

Exodus 3:10 NIV (Moses’s calling)

We can be leaders in more than one aspect of life at the same time. I can, for example, be a parent at home, a foreman or manager at work and an elder at church at the same time.

What makes a good leader? What is expected of him or her? What is it that will make my team want me as their leader, and choose to follow me in good times and bad? It is trust. Trust that I know what I am doing, that I can make the right things happen, that I will tell the truth and put the vision ahead of my selfish interests.

God, your superiors and your team, whether it be your family, subordinates at work, or volunteers working with you, all rely on the quality of your leadership. Earn your team’s trust through your love for them and your commitment to your vision. Then you will earn their indispensable contribution towards your vision. And you will be a successful leader.

No other success can compensate for failure in the home. Parenthood is the most important leadership responsibility in life and will provide the greatest levels of happiness and joy. And when true leadership – i.e. vision, discipline, passion and conscience – is not manifested in parenthood, it will provide the greatest source of sorrow and disappointment.

For parents to instil a sense of vision and possibility into a family, to exercise the discipline and sacrifice to pull that vision off, and to endure through the difficult times with a deep sense of passion, drive and commitment, all in a conscience-driven way, I suggest, is the ultimate and best test of leadership. If part of the vision is to see this family culture transmitted from generation to generation, perhaps in that alone will our lives be fulfilled and joyful, even if we accomplish nothing else.

Stephen R. Covey

There is nothing unique or divine about a business or ministry that is built at the expense of a marriage or family. On the other hand, find me a man or woman who has built a great organisation and whose family is thriving, and I’ll show you an opportunity for God to draw big-time attention to himself. That’s when outsiders stop and wonder.

Andy Stanley