Leadership is a complex process of influence. Leaders should have the ability to influence in the four different proxemics that Edward Hall identifies. These four spaces (proxemics) consist of public space, social space, personal space and intimate space. Leaders have the ability to influence people in each of these four spaces. Over time they will have influenced in each of these areas. Influence is key to leadership and we must have an understanding of it.

Knowing about different kinds of influence is as important as knowing where we direct our influence. There is influence that flows from us and as Christian leaders, there is influence that flow through us. It would be easy to focus on the different kinds of positional and personal influence (and good to know them) but I personally think it is more important to recognize the two sources of influence.

As a Christian leader I am empowered to use my mind and heart in conjunction with the spiritual gift of leadership God has given me to influence people. God has given me the ability to influence others. I can do all things through Christ who gives me srength -- Philippians 4:13 NLT. It is not a question of whether we have the ability to do something or not. We do and in a leaders situation you can influence others from passion within. The question is who gives us authority to do so. That authority is God.

It is easily recognized that we have the inner ability to influence and this ability is from God. Influence can flow from us. Even more important in the Christian leader's life is the discipline of allowing influence to flow through us. This is reflective of John 3:30 NLT - He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

Early in my initial development as a Christian leader I thought that I had to get out of the way so that God could be seen. I have since come to learn that God does not want to push His people out of the way but that He wants to flow through them and be seen through and in them. It is amazing. The other source of influence is supernatural. It is God flowing through us as leaders. I believe the sole purpose of this influence is to direct people to God and His kingdom.

As a leader there is a difference in influence that flows from us and one that flows through us. I do not think that influence that flows from us is inferior to influence that flows through us. I even think it can be seen outside of faith (if it is possible for things to exist outside of faith.) Leaders of great organizations do some amazing things outside of faith-based organizations.

Take One.org for example. It is an amazing effort to fight poverty. Influence comes from these leaders no doubt but there is influence that flows through leaders as well. This influence and energy flowing through leaders comes from passion (an external force acting upon an agent). Some would credit this passion to human hope but I believe it is more than that. I believe it is the nature of God. This passion is what drives this organization and keeps it together.

Influence flows from and through. Do you readily recognize this in your life? Understanding the awesomeness of this is crucial. Leaders, understand that you have the ability to influence and that you have the ability to allow influence to flow through you. Influence is crucial to understand because leadership is influence.