Influence

Do you have ideas for change‚ but feel powerless to make them happen? Do you struggle to respect the authority of your leaders, while you yearn for them to see your vision?

Did you know that you can be a leader now? No matter how young you are, even if you have no official position, no one under your authority, and no title, you can be a leader. How?

The secret is that leadership is not position. It's influence.

Influence: Leading Without Position, by experienced leaders Philip Morrison and Hankuri Gaya, will help you discover how to spark change, just as young men and women in the Bible did.

As you learn to be like the ultimate leader, Jesus himself, you can begin to lead transformation in your own community, church, or nation!

This book comes at the perfect time in a context where youth represent most of Africa's population. It provides clear and practical answers to their questions in their quest for change. Sure, we all want change, but as Christians we must not forget that true Christian leadership cannot work without God at the centre of leaders' lives. Being a true Christian leader requires you to first be influenced by God before influencing others. A book to be read and taught to the new generation. —Dr Daniel Kouakou, Faculty Member of The John Maxwell Team (Côte d'Ivoire)

This little book is succinct and helpful encouragement for problem solving and causing change for the better, in your family, workplace, or community. A common leadership challenge is resistance to change, especially when those with position and power put a lid on change. Positional authority alone could be stagnant. Titles and positions by themselves may not effectively deliver permanent transformation. Morrison and Gaya demonstrate how one could lead from behind. Leading or influencing change without any authority to enforce this but causing those with the power and authority take off the lid and gladly embrace the change – leadership at its best. This kind of leadership is not only intergenerational but encourages every person to pour into other others what God has graciously endowed each one us with influence. A helpful tool to influence change for the better in your sphere of influence and the society as a whole. —Rev Dr Aiah Foday-Khabenje, General Secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, author of “Competencies in Leading in Diversity” (Sierra Leone)

Morrison and Gaya explain how ordinary people can influence those in leadership. One does not need to hold an official position or title to influence people to accomplish God's purposes for one's life and community. Influence over others results from application of values and principles that motivate change. They support their arguments with examples from their own lives and ministry experience and biblical models of young leaders and ordinary people who influenced their mentors and leaders. I highly recommend this book to mature leaders who desire to multiply themselves, as well as young leaders and any Christian hoping to make a difference in their church and community in Africa and beyond. —Dr Faustin Ntamushobora, President & CEO of Transformational Leadership in Africa (Rwanda)

I am a great admirer of Phil Morrison and his books. Like his other books, Influence is as compelling as it is practical. It blends biblical and real-life examples seamlessly. When I started reading it, I couldn't stop. It is so boldly refreshing and touches both the mind and the heart in new ways. It is desperately needed at this time when many Christian leaders are failing to lead through influence, opting for meaningless titles and positions. I enthusiastically endorse the book as a core resource for leaders and aspiring leaders in both formal and informal leadership positions. —Dr Joy Mbaabu, Lawyer, Mediator, Conflict Resolver and Peacemaker (Kenya)

Morrison and Gaya have given us something special – a tutor on how to lead without position. It is easy to read, with interesting, relatable stories from real life. A key theme that runs through the whole book is that anyone can lead by influencing, as long as one has the right attitude, character, and knowledge. Young people in Africa, take advantage of this special tool. It is something we wish we had when we were young. To the older generation, I have learned some exciting things from this book. Let us use while we still can. It is not yet too late! —Pastor Chris Mwalwa, Word of Life Fellowship and Africa Inland Church, Ngong Road, Nairobi (Kenya)