The question goes something like this: “Is there a difference between discipleship and leadership?”  In your experience I wonder if you have found that discipleship and leadership bleed into each other.  I actually had a leader ask the question and it caused me to reflect – my initial response was “Yes, there a difference.”

One simple distinction is that discipleship focuses on following and leadership, on influencing.  This to is too simplistic of course; because a leader, the best leaders, follow Jesus.  At the same time though, a disciple does shift their behavior when they lead and intentionally influence others.

I’ve spent a lot of time over the last 25+ years focusing on these two dimensions.  If you would like to read more, check-out the free downloadable article entitled the Leadership Multiplication Pathway.  In the article, I focus on the distinctions between being a disciple and a leader, using the Leadership Multiplication Pathway storyboard to illustrate a path leaders can use to coach people on their journey.

By Gary Reinecke