Receivers of this information may overlook the contextual and environmental influences that make the style effective in its culture of origin. The proximity of information, however, does not insure equality of effectiveness. We have learned by experience that success in one culture does not guarantee effectiveness in another. Formulas have replaced models in the discussion of leadership in the church . A model is a pattern or paradigm that a leader can adapt to his or her leadership environment.
Models tend to be transferable from culture to culture.
A formula, on the other hand, is a prescription that when followed suggests certain outcomes will result. The learner is told that if he follows a certain leadership law, he or she will experience the promised result. Formulas, however, overlook the human element in both the leader and the followers. They also look beyond the several tangible and intangible factors that make the formula effective for the one who offers it. Models are preferred to formulas because they provide a more adaptable, human portal to discover one's leadership style.