simplicity of that definition. Many people are confused about what
leadership is. I find it helpful to distinguish between genuine leader-
ship and synthetic leadership. First let me explain the impostor, syn-
thetic leadership.
Synthetic leadership looks like the real thing, but it isn’t. The
phony leader is overly concerned with title, position, and perks. But
those things don’t make you a leader. You are only a leader if you lead.
At a luncheon a guy handed me the single most impressive busi-
ness card I have ever seen. Top to bottom his card listed titles and posi-
tions. He was chairman; he was president; he was founder; he was
chief executive officer; he was managing partner. Then on the flip side
there was another list! As impressive as his card is, though, this man
is only a leader if he leads.
Synthetic leadership makes a strong first impression and looks
good. King Saul is a classic example of a synthetic leader. He had the
great title of king. And he looked like a leader—a handsome man with
chiseled facial features. If Saul were to enter a church sanctuary today
we would all be attracted to him, because he stood head and shoul-
ders above everyone else. The guy just looked great! But the problem
with Saul was he didn’t have the heart for leadership. Leadership is
always an issue of the heart, because out of the heart comes such
sturdy stuff as integrity and character.
Every time Saul’s leadership was tested he failed miserably.
Because his leadership was synthetic, Saul did not cut it and God
finally said, “That’s it. He’s out of there.” God found a new leader, a
kid named David, who later would be described as a man “after God’s
own heart.” David ended up on the run from Saul, because a synthetic
leader is intimidated and threatened by an authentic leader. Genuine
leaders lead out of the power of their lives—“You follow me as I fol-
low Christ.” That’s it. They don’t need a title or position.
The sons of Issachar understood the times and had a vision for
what Israel should do (1 Chron. 12:32). Someone once asked Helen
Keller if there was anything worse than being blind. She said, “Yes,
having sight but no vision.” Vision is critical for a leader.
I want us to be like the sons of Issachar about our times, because
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