If we have an outcome-driven view of leadership, that means we have forgotten who we have become in Christ – that as leaders we are first and foremost followers of Jesus and as such that we are citizens of his kingdom, according to Joseph Stowell in his book Redefining Leadership: Character-Driven Habits of Effective Leaders. Secular leaders can identify themselves as leaders, but Christian leaders must identify themselves primarily as followers.
The book goes on to provide plenty more advice which those of us in church world who have been swallowing secular leadership books whole will find somewhat uncomfortable to digest. Followers of Jesus should be kingdom leaders pursuing character-driven leadership, rather than instinctive leaders pursuing outcome-drive leadership. Instead of using people to build the enterprise, we should be using the enterprise to build people. Instead of the leader being the centre of the organisation, Jesus should be the centre.
The book is challenging and convicting, but so is the New Testament, which the author quotes extensively. It is so easy for leadership practices and priorities in churches and Christian organisations to copy those of secular organisations; this book provides a thoughtful corrective to that tendency, and I highly recommend it.