Am I an Effective Leader?

This is a question we rarely ask ourselves. But – to be honest – I’m asked on a regular basis: “How do we help our Pastor be a more effective leader?” (Note: other church leaders – elders, deacons, educators -could stand to ask that question of their own leadership too.)

Maybe our favorite Pastor is a wonderful human being, a friend to all, a faithful pastoral caregiver. But what if the congregation isn’t advancing toward becoming more like the Reign of God? What if the congregation is making zero difference in the community? What if nobody is growing spiritually?

What if the elders, deacons, and educators are leaving their roles with the same level of spiritual maturity (or immaturity) that they started with?

We are not place holders filling positions for the sake of filling positions. We were not elected because we have a pulse (at least I hope that’s not why we are serving.)

Maybe it’s never occurred to us that – for leaders – learning to lead is a lifelong endeavor.

Check out the books on Peter Steinke’s bookshelf (above.) And here are some of my own thoughts. Effective leaders . . .

• Know who they are. They don’t chase every great idea or every shiny object because they know what they stand for and who/what they worship.
• Are clear on the organization’s mission. If the mission is “to be a light in the city” then we aren’t distracted by opportunities that shift our focus from the city. If the mission is “to transform the world for good in the name of Jesus Christ” then we won’t be bogged down by conversations about whether or not to build a fountain in the courtyard. If the mission is “to address what break’s Jesus heart in our neighborhood” then clearly we need to focus on what’s going on in our neighborhood and spend minimal time on sanctuary paint colors.
• Address conflict quickly and with love. If we know who we are and we are clear on the mission, then it’s fairly easy to stand up to factions working against that mission.
• Are open to learning. In any given organization there are so many people who know things that the leader doesn’t know. I’m a big fan of being mentored by younger team members, new team members, even cranky team members.
• Are willing to changing their minds. We could definitely be wrong. Show us.
• Know it’s never about the leader. Our nation is a hot mess on Capitol Hill these days because leaders have chosen political parties over country. Imagine being a leader that is less interested in posturing/making a name for themselves than in achieving the mission.

My hope in the Church is that our mission is some version of Making the World More On Earth As It Is In Heaven. We have a lot of work to do. Let’s focus.

Image source.