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Some leaders take pride in their title, prominently displaying it on their business card or their office door. Some boast about their degrees and the letters after their name. For those leaders, authority is about the position you hold and the names beneath theirs on the company’s organizational chart. 

But wise leaders have come to realize that the highest level of a leader’s influence—which anyone can recognize, even those who don’t report to you—is moral authority. A leader with moral authority inspires people, adds value to others, and builds a team on credibility and respect.

It’s difficult to discuss biblical leadership without examining the life of King David. Beside the wisdom and battle strategy for which he’s known, David also exhibited a personal magnetism born of moral authority.

He rarely had to ask others to follow him; even when he was hiding alone in the desert from a bloodthirsty Saul, an army of scattered outcasts came to him and formed the group known as David’s mighty men. 

Though anointed by God to be king of Israel, David never tried killing Saul to take the throne by force. Even when Saul finally died in battle, David didn’t stake claim to the throne that was rightfully his. Instead, he allowed Saul’s son Ish-bosheth to reign as Israel’s king for two years.

It was only when Ish-bosheth met his untimely demise that all the tribes of Israel came to David and said, “You’ve always been the unofficial leader we’ve looked to, even when Saul and Ish-bosheth were ruling. Would you please finally come be our official leader?”

David never focused on a leadership title; instead, he focused on building the moral authority that the greatest leaders have. As a leader, you can make your focus about rank or respect.

Which do you really want?

Questions to ask yourself:

What is the difference between having a leadership position and having leadership authority? 

Why should a leader want moral authority (respect) over positional authority (rank)? How does that affect an organization in the long run?