Leaders are thermostats
Photo by Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash

Leaders are thermostats

During my earliest days of ministry, three other pastors and I met weekly on Wednesday afternoons. Our "agenda" was always loose. Over the course of two hours, we sometimes laughed. We sometimes cried. We occasionally sang. We always prayed. 


One Wednesday afternoon, one of my friends shared an experience he had observed over the several years he had led the church he pastored. Whenever he was involved in any church leadership meeting, a committee within the church structure, or an ad-hoc group to plan some ministry event, he wound up functioning like a thermostat in the discussion. 


Delving deeper into the details, he compared several meetings of the church's leadership. There were some serious, even contentious, matters they confronted over several months. The pastor said he noticed that any time his emotions began to show among the others, the "temperature" of the room increased. The volume of their discussion escalated. The words they used became gradually more harsh. Differences of view became sharp disagreements. 


As he noted these rising passions among the church leaders, he began to work intentionally to remain calm in those meetings. The results, he shared, were revealing, compelling, and convicting. When he strove to keep the tone of his voice even and measured, the passions lowered. When he responded calmly to the difficult decisions they had to address, the others around the table remained calm. When he was composed and confident in the face of a significant challenge, the others were less anxious and animated. 


His experience was enlightening, intriguing, and informative at the moment. It has remained with me for some 25 years. However, the value of what he shared that day has only increased over time. 


There are many environments where a leader has significant formal authority. A small business owner, the sole-proprietor of a professional practice, and a Chief Executive Officer of a large corporation all have the authority to make decisions that chart a specific course for the future of the business. Church planters are typically afforded more deference in decision-making in a wide range of matters. 


However, for pastors of small-town Baptist churches like my friend, leadership is often more an exercise of influence than authority.


Whether a pastor or director of a non-profit with a governing board, our responsibility of leadership increases rather than decreases in these situations. The governing documents of the church or non-profit may limit the duties of the pastor or director to planning, preparing, and leading worship gatherings or other formal events. Yet, the responsibility that comes with the role is far more significant.  


Whether formally defined and empowered or not, the leader's responsibility will always include setting the temperature for meetings. The way the leader manages his own emotions will set the temperature for the entire church, team, or organization. Increasing the temperature will typically increase disagreement and division. Decreasing the temperature too drastically may lead others to ignore a vital matter. Finding the temperature that is just right is the leader's responsibility. 


How do you set the thermostat for your church, business, professional practice, or non-profit? Whom can you trust to give you some helpful feedback? How can you begin to prepare for the meetings where you determine the temperature in the room? What matters need to have the temperature increased? What discussions have gotten too heated already? How can you lower the temperature for those? 


I am praying for you as you lead!

Enjoy your weekend. 

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Dennis Conner的更多文章

  • Well-designed leadership

    Well-designed leadership

    Each year, the first week of March takes my mind back to Chicago. March 4 is Charter Day in Chicago.

    1 条评论
  • Leadership Explorer

    Leadership Explorer

    For the last six years, the story has forced its way back from the recesses of my memory to the forefront of my…

  • Only the lonely

    Only the lonely

    Nearly 15 years ago, I was a wee bit younger and a whole lot dumber. In my earliest days of leaving local church…

  • I'm a fan of Fangio's leadership

    I'm a fan of Fangio's leadership

    “Offense sells tickets,” said legendary Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, “but defense wins championships.” And who…

  • Multiplied leadership of Robert Abbott

    Multiplied leadership of Robert Abbott

    Born in a cabin on Georgia’s St Simons Island just four years after the end of the Civil War, Robert Abbot was a young…

  • The persistent, patient, prepared pursuit of bin Laden

    The persistent, patient, prepared pursuit of bin Laden

    Although the news came late in the evening on the East Coast, the three-hour time difference meant it was prime time in…

  • Gridiron Leadership

    Gridiron Leadership

    I’m thrilled. Yesterday, the Chicago Bears introduced Ben Johnson as the team’s 19th head coach.

  • "Can't never did do nothing."

    "Can't never did do nothing."

    Mary Maude Brackett was born in January 1911. She was the fifth of eleven children.

  • Spreading leadership

    Spreading leadership

    Three months after President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany in April 1917, construction began on a training…

  • A lasting legacy of leadership

    A lasting legacy of leadership

    At a time long before social media, a little-known Governor of Georgia announced that he was running for President of…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了