George Barna has gained a well-earned reputation for keeping his finger on the pulse of contemporary Christianity.
As head of the Barna Research Group, based in Ventura, Calif., he is acknowledged as an authority on the intersection of faith and culture.
His views sometimes aren't the most flattering toward the modern-day church. Sometimes the truth hurts.
Barna, 54, raised a Catholic but now a Protestant, also knows a thing or two about leadership.
He delves into this most important topic in his latest book "Master Leader: Revealing Conversations with 30 Leadership Greats" (Tyndale-Barna Books, hardcover, 231 pages, $24.99).
In a recent phone chat, Barna said he was floored to be able to get interviews with so many people he admired for his book.
"After this," he said, "you have to believe in miracles."
Among the luminaries who agreed to take part in the project were such political figures as Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich, football coaches Lou Holtz and Tony Dungy, and medical pioneer Ben Carson.
Barna interviewed some of the folks in person for the book. Other interviews took place over the phone.
He said he had met some of the people he interviewed previously and knew of others through word of mouth.
His thrill, he said, was being able to assemble such a wealth of knowledge in a book that he hopes will help people unlock the secrets to effective leadership.
Barna said "there wasn't a single person I interviewed who didn't surprise me," adding that those who accepted his invitation to take part in his book project proved once again that humility and grace are among the hallmarks of true leadership.
"There is so much to know," Barna said, "and there are so many generous leaders out there who are willing to share their experiences with others."
Genuine leaders, Barna said, "really care about other people." Many of them confided that they didn't think "they'd done anything great," Barna said, but rather that "God smiled on them."
That's another trait of a great leader.
Barna said he attempted to tailor his questions to the person's area of expertise, yet found many commonalities that cut a wide swath across the various disciplines.
Not everyone is endowed with the gift of being a born leader, Barna acknowledged. But, then again, many of those he interviewed would say the same thing about themselves.
Ultimately, Barna said, everyone can be a leader in some way, shape or form, even if that means being a parent who is good at raising his kids or setting an example for those in his or her circle of influence.
Three things that must be present to be a leader of other people, Barna said: being called by God to lead; having the character of a leader; and having the competence that is essential in being a good leader.
Levels of leadership will vary, and some may be called to be in places of great importance, leading many people. Such positions, he said, aren't for everybody.
"If God made everyone a leader," he said, "we'd have chaos. Nobody would be following anybody else."
SOURCE: CJ Online - Phil Anderson
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