I've always told our church, "I have no idea what I'm doing." My desire has always been to grow and learn constantly while leading from a place of humility. As leaders, it's important to admit we don't have all the answers and don't always have it all together. At the same time, we should always be in a growth process and evolve in how we lead effectively.
"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
One of the ways I grow is through podcasts hosted by seasoned, influential leaders. That being said, this blog post is based on Craig Groeschel's Leadership Podcast - Episode One.
Just as there are multiple church cultures, denominations, and leadership characteristics, there are multiple leadership styles, some great and others not. If we aren't aware of what kind of leader we are, we cannot recognize our blind spots, hindrances, and how we could keep the ministry from expanding. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we must admit that, in some cases, we are the weapon formed against ourselves, causing us not to prosper. What a hard pill to swallow.
Do you know what kind of leader you are? Let's find out.
1. UNPREDICTABLE LEADERS can create excitement through movement and change but can have trouble gaining people's trust since there is no record of stability with decisions, or standards. People are likely excited to follow for a season but will fall away or lose trust once they witness the instability of their leader's words and actions. The most successful people remain consistent in what works and make adjustments over time to find the best flow.
2. DOMINEERING LEADERS are great at creating compliant followers and raising a team of people who will serve in loyalty but often lack the ability to raise leaders who can think for themselves. Having a team that complies with your direction is wonderful, but it would be much more beneficial to have a team that is committed to the vision rather than just their direct overseer's micromanagement. If you have trouble trusting people to lead, start small by encouraging ideas and creativity.
3. SECRETIVE LEADERS lack vulnerability and transparency, which can create a sense of disconnect. These types of leaders often have guarded and distrustful followers, because they reflect the character and mindset of their direct overseer. Teams should work together and learn to trust one another. To shift from a secretive leadership style, there must be honest and transparent communication to foster a team culture that can grow in trust and genuine fellowship.
4. PASSIVE LEADERS often create disengaged followers and can harm the morale of an organization by refusing to address conflict or issues that require correction. Passive leadership must step off the sidelines and into the field if they expect growth. We can't avoid conflict for the sake of our comfort, especially when in a position of Kingdom leadership. To shift out of this style, a passive leader must step out of their comfort zone and address problems, be present, be vocal, and actively engage with their teams when making decisions.
5. HEALTHY LEADERS don't just lead others well but know how to lead themselves into new areas of growth and acceleration. Healthy leadership plans intentionally, builds the culture, listens well, collaborates with their team, is transparent and trustworthy, and gives credit where credit is due. Healthy leaders build people and create healthy followers. Most of us would consider this to be the ultimate goal, but we can't stop here.
6. EMPOWERING LEADERS don't just lead followers; they lead and build leaders. To become an empowering leader, there must be a high level of trust in the team as they are raised to take high levels of responsibility and become stewards of their ministries without needing constant direct oversight or micromanaging. Empowering leaders assist others to become better and grow into their own leadership gifts and talents.
As we grow in our leadership styles and remain in a place of submission to the Lord, we must always keep one thing at the forefront of our mind, we are here to serve, not to be served. Scripture remains true in every denomination and church culture, regardless of methods and practices. According to Jesus, we are gifts to the Body given by God to serve the Body. All Kingdom leaders are called to servant leadership above all else.
"But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 NLT
Whether you're a seasoned leader, or just stepping into your first leadership role, keep yourself in a place of constant growth. We are not all-knowing, but we are led by the one who is. Connect with other great leaders, learn from different methods and perspectives, and ask God to help you become transformed more and more into His glorious image. It's not about us or our ministry name, it's always about Him!
