Leadership tapas
This week’s Thursday Thoughts on Leadership offers four brief insights. Think of them as leadership tapas.
Consistency builds credibility.?Throughout my years of parachurch ministry with church planters and pastors of long-established churches, I have found those who cancel outward-facing events create doubt in the minds of those we are trying to reach.
When we were planting in Arizona, we hosted an Easter Egg Hunt on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter each year. One year, we had an unexpected heavy rain on Saturday morning. We quickly shifted to an indoor egg hunt rather than cancel it.
Not everyone would agree with me, but I’m convinced an event that doesn’t go as well as we hope is better than creating doubt in the minds of those we will invite to our next one.
We are NOT the exception to the rule.?While my work is much more general now and allows me to encourage, coach, cajole, assist, and inspire a wider variety of ministry leaders, there once was a time when my days were invested in church planters. Several come to mind who “launched” too soon with too few people. Despite decades of hard-earned experience from others involved in church planting telling them of the need to have a strong core group with several dozen committed volunteers, they are convinced that their situation is different.
“So many people told me they would be ‘all in’ once we started gathering on Sundays,” one told me. “Things are different here,” another insisted. “You don’t believe in the power of the preached Word of God,” was the defense of another.
The first of those launched with twice as many supporters from partnering churches and networks than people from the community. If you subtracted the church planter and his family, there were fewer than a dozen. That church plant is gone despite hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in it. The others I mentioned and many like them are gone, too.
Whether it be planting a church, leading a small business, or a volunteer team in our community, we face certain realities. Those circumstances must be considered when making decisions. Our visions must come to life in reality. And while strength of will is a key component, our desire alone won’t change certain realities.
Leaders adjust to the moment.?One of the aforementioned church planters who launched with fewer than two dozen people in the room, and only eight of those adult volunteers committed to the vision and mission of this new church, was proud to tell me once that he spent 40 hours each week on sermon prep. “Bubba, you’re wasting your time!” was my terse response. “At this point, you should be investing at least 40% of your time developing relationships with unchurched people in your community,” I continued after getting his attention with my shocking assertion. It is the same counsel I have given to dozens of church planters in the earliest stages of their work.
When we were planting in Arizona, my earliest days were invested even more heavily in getting to know people in our community. I once attended every meeting of our? school district’s governing board. They met twice every month. My initial motivation was to know first-hand what decisions were being made rather than relying on our community rumor mill for information. I discovered that I often met people there I would not meet anywhere else.
Once we launched, there was a flock to shepherd and a wider range of administrative responsibilities, so my priorities had to shift. I eventually stopped attending school board meetings, and my substitute teaching became less frequent.
I don’t know any pastors of long-established churches who have the luxury of investing 40 hours each week in sermon preparation alone. Even a highly-skilled baker who opens a new bake shop can’t spend all her time baking cakes and pies. She must devote some of her time and attention to running the business.
Be honest.?Throughout my years of ministry, I’ve known leaders who have said one thing to my face and very different things behind my back. “Duplicitous” was the word I used recently to describe one experience to a friend. Sadly, I have been guilty of it myself in my early years of ministry. Frankly, southern culture is replete with it.
However, I have found that when we are honest, sometimes even harshly so, without being unnecessarily mean, we can be of greater service to those we mentor, guide, and otherwise lead. Likewise, those who are honest with us are far more valuable to us and our growth than those who act duplicitously with us and others.
What about you? Whose life and leadership are you shaping? How can you be honest with them without being harmful?
How do your leadership role's current circumstances shape how you lead? Who can help you recognize adjustments you may need to make?
What well-earned wisdom have you missed? Who can you ask to help you assess your current situation? If you are considering a change in leadership roles, who can invest the knowledge they gained from their experience in you?
Are you consistent in your leadership and decision-making? In what areas of your role need greater consistency? Who can help you assess those needs and how to address them?
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Enjoy your weekend!
The views and opinions expressed in my Thursday Thoughts on Leadership are my own. They do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina or any affiliated churches.