Many of us remember former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher and the innumerable articles written about her leadership style at home and abroad. I for one enjoy watching the one hour and 31 minute .tv session on Margaret Thatcher titled Falkland's Play. It exhibits her cabinet in the lead up to the Falkland Island's War with Argentina.
In this televised program we are given an insiders view of how Margaret Thatcher led her cabinet through a maze of peace negotiations including that of Alexander Haig the US Secretary of State and that of the United Nations.
In one memorable scene where the UN vote for Britain was hanging by the slimmest of margins the Jordanian vote was being seen as that of 'against'. Margaret Thatcher got on the phone to Jordan's King and instruction came through to his delegation, their vote was changed and victory gained.
The final scene is likewise powerful where a member of the Opposition challenges her Falkland's War leadership as an 'unnecessary war' and her response leaves a telling mark, that he would not enjoy the freedom of speech unless people had been prepared to fight for it.
In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald by James Adonis titled "The leadership wisdom of Margaret Thatcher" her leadership is given an analysis with some of her memorable quotes along with his own summaries.
As I read the article, and having viewed the television play above, it illustrated a number of parallels with Christian leadership. After all leadership must have some similarities whether its a local sports club, a P&C, a social club, a blue collar foreman, a white collar manager, in business and in politics.
Memorable lines
James Adonis provides some memorable one liners from Margaret Thatcher: "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." He notes that power is more about more about exerting influence. Another Thatcherism: "Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction."
Again: "If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing." James Adonis quotes a paper where the idea of prestige is associated with skill and competence; in other words, the ability to demonstrate talent and capability. Dominance, on the other hand, was associated more with arrogance. The former is preferable to the latter, but both were found to be more effective than the boss that everyone merely likes.
Margaret Thatcher - "What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose." James Adonis observes the following: Make purpose a priority by being clear on where you're going and, most importantly, why. Instil that purpose in your employees by making sure they understand not only what it is but also how they can contribute to it. Make it safe to fail by encouraging employees to attempt purpose-driven innovation even if they occasionally flunk.
Leadership in Margaret Thatcher's ideology was greatly influenced by her Methodist Evangelical upbringing and it was based squarely on the individual "having a go" and in her political manifesto the individual served the State and not the other way round. This in essence was the huge ideological difference with the Left.
Christian leadership
Christian leadership has all these factors involved in encouraging their volunteer personnel engaged in either local churches and missions. Take for example, the idea that leadership is about exerting influence, talent and capability - people follow such a leader. Moreover the nature of having a clear vision, encouraging contribution of ideas and being innovative.
There is an added ingredient in Christian leadership and is the firm belief and commitment to the idea that the Holy Spirit is leading ahead of the process or project that the Lord had his hand upon our life in His service. A recent example was the initiation of the online ministry seminars last April of "One Day in Melbourne" - clear and precise in (1) subject matter (2) target audience (3) confidence in the co-hosts and their credentials.
It so happens to be Morling College's 100 years in Ministry celebration (NSW Baptist Theological Seminary). As a product of Morling this was my submission on it's leadership training:
Tribute to Morling College
Congratulations to this celebration of 100 years Morling College. I celebrate my years at Morling 1977-80 where learning was bountiful, wholeness was given, differing views were respected, friendships encountered, surprises never far away, and moreover theological boxes were disbanded, certainly in my 4 years - years of stimulation.
Morling provided the leg-up to ministry opportunities - 12 years ITIM industrial padre at Shell Australia (Kevan Gosper Chairman of Shell and the Olympic chaplaincy). The development of the Sports Chaplaincy Ministry and Christian Athlete Ministry and my 17 years as the Australian cricket team chaplain - recognition years later celebrating my 60th at an SCG box with mission friends. The Basil Sellers Respite House in Moruya for AIS elite athletes, followed by art galleries and art prizes and then missionary respite. Now for many years with Christina Today as a daily columnist and 85 young writers from Australia, New Zealand and around the world - followed by day on-line ministry national seminars.
This was due to those key Morling years. There were many who walked beside me and none more so than Ross Clifford. Thankyou to Morling, in my era the late Ron Rogers was the Morling Principal whose grace and genuine perceptions allowed me to gain tertiary honours. Thankyou to Ross Clifford and the team in this current era, now the largest seminary in Australia.
In a conversation with a Catholic Priest at Midge Point not six weeks ago, they cannot get candidates into their seminaries whereas Morling is overflowing - the discussion focused on non-parish based ministries for which Morling excells and widely known, yes even through the Australian denominational scene.
Thankyou from a stuttering ordinand.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html