Quote

"People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. . . The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives."
—Theodore Roosevelt

Scripture

"Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. Exodus 18:24-25

Prayer

Father, most gracious and ever so patient. I want to lead in a way that honors you. I don’t want to lead to make people happy or prosperous. I want to lead in a way that exemplifies what I’ve learned from being part of your family—your grace—your eternal love. Shield me from my selfish self and my anxious personal ambitions when they don’t honor you. Soften my heart to realize that what really matters in your Kingdom, is the only thing that really matters. Deal with me gently and help me to deal with others in the same way. AMEN

Leadership

Now that I have your attention...

7 Rules for Being a Good Leader

For 17 years of my ministry life I worked with a man (Walt Gerber, Pastor Emeritus of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California) who exemplifies for me the way leaders should act and be! He was imperfect like the rest of us, but his demeanor and sense of his role were above reproach. He was the epitome of WYSIWYG (what you sees is what you gets). He was (and is) loved by all who ever worked with him. Here’s what I learned from his example—I pass it to you as an encouragement to be God’s person wherever you find yourself leading and ministering to people.

1. Strong and decisive, but attentive to others

It is tempting, maybe even good, to be strong and decisive when you are placed in a leadership role. We, as leaders, want to prove that we are “born” leaders, and we want people’s respect and confidence in our ability to “move and shake” the universe where God has placed us. Part of that desire and stance is our pride, and part of it is our fear that people won’t respond to our leadership (my, my, how weak we are). So, we huff and puff, and try to blow down the walls that keep us from being ”in charge” and credible. Sometimes that works, but most of the time it doesn’t. Strong leaders are at their best when they are being attentive to those they work for and with—make no mistake about that. Without listening and observing the cues coming from those with whom we serve, we are blind to the very things that actually cry out for leadership. We ignore these cues at our peril. "Strong and decisive" sometimes means that we have been blind to detail and the culture where we find ourselves. Is there a time to be strong and decisive? Absolutely, but it’s a very long process to get to that point. Good leaders usually know when that time has come, and they always exercise the prerogative with grace and understanding.

2. Friendly, but firm

Everyone wants to be liked—it’s built in and often validates our reason for being. I don’t know people who don’t want to be liked. A boss (leader) wants to be liked! Some of us are outgoing and friendly by some fluky DNA assignment. Some of us withdraw from others for protection. Good leaders know they at least have to appear friendly and they work very hard at accomplishing the illusion. The problem for some is that they don’t actually feel particularly friendly or outgoing. They have to manufacture it! These lonely people are sometimes distrustful and are usually not very grateful. They start their day with a bit of distain for others and restlessness for what is before them. They have little use for small talk because they have predetermined that the day will be filled with traps, set just for them! Being friendly for this group is a chore and a burden. By the way, they are often heard to say things that are friendly, but are never perceived by others to actually own that value. Sad! The true leader starts with gratitude for their job, their colleagues, their spouses, and their opportunity to serve. They are firm but never cloying, because their hearts are full of gratitude that they get to have this day, these people, and this chance to serve others. Walt used to say to me that it is a good idea for leaders to turn around once in a while to see if anyone is following them. If you don’t see anyone, you’re not a leader. Ouch! Good advice! Firmness comes from security and awareness of others, not from a title bestowed on you.

3. Knowledgeable, but quick to hand off questions that are better handled by others

Good leaders don’t know everything. They know some things very well, but they are quick to admit what they don’t know. Insecurity in a leader often shows up when they are faced with a question to which they don’t actually have an answer. They bluff their way through the moment with facts and opinions that they can’t actually support, or of which they have no knowledge. These leaders are duplicitous and cowardly. They are praying they won’t be discovered and have generally lived with a life-long fear of being caught as an imposter. Good leaders are very quick to seek answers from others when they themselves lack trustworthy information. There is no crime in not knowing something. People respect people who understand their limitations.

 
4. Generous, but very devoted to the bottom line

A good leader knows how to give of themselves and the resources available to them. They are not stingy or reluctant to grant mercy where needed. They have an intuitive way of seeing someone’s need and addressing it if it’s in their power. I can remember countless times, for example, when Walt would come into my office, take one look at me, and say, “You’re beat, get out of here, take your wife away for two days and come back refreshed. This place will live without you for 48 hours.” At the same time, he would always make sure that the work was getting done and that we understood the bottom line of what we were called to do. Generosity affirms both the leader and those they serve!


5. Confident, but transparent

Transparency can’t be over-rated! People who have this remarkable gift are usually among the most trusted people on earth. Even if your transparency leads people to an understanding of your weaknesses, it also bolsters people’s confidence that you are aware of who you are and the limitations you face. Confidence, on the other hand, should come from your strong set of values, practiced over time with clarity and determination. It’s O.K. to be confident, but it’s not O.K. to be overly confident when it simply betrays your insecurity. Walt is one of those people who readily admits his weaknesses, and those of us who worked with him were always anxious to build him up in ways that would strengthen his leadership. What a gift it is for a leader to actually send signals that he needs the help of those with whom he works!


6. Forward looking, but very aware of tradition and history

During my many years of working with Walt I learned tons of information about the history of our church. He was both respectful and diligent about keeping his staff informed about what and to whom we needed to be thankful in order to fully appreciate the current life of our church. I liked the way he envisioned our future, but I loved his ability to keep us focused on the continuum of which we were a part. Just as the Bible let’s us reflect on our history and commemorates our heritage, a good leader is quick to memorialize the learning we have been given. Sometimes churches do so much forward thinking that they dump the knowledge and wisdom of those who went before them. It’s a mistake and one I hope we will learn from in the years to come.


7. Prepared, but not rigid

In the church world, lack of preparation is often a problem. The old saying that “the devil is in the details” is flat-out wrong! God is in the details. He left no detail unanswered in His creation, in His plan for us, or knowledge of who we are in Him. God’s in the details!  Generally speaking, people expect their leaders to be both prepared and ready to respond to their needs. It’s a reasonable expectation, and for those of us who get paid to lead, it’s part of the job! Walt (yes, again) was one of those pastors who went off to a mountain retreat every summer and wrote sermons for the entire year. Another one of my pastors (Lloyd Ogilvie) was also  known far and wide for the same gift to his worship staff. What a blessing to know far in advance what was coming. I always benefited from being able to plan far into the future. It made all of us look good and it enhanced our ability to serve one another. But often, the greatest things happened in our worship services when the plans suddenly changed or were reconfigured at the last minute. I’ve spoken with countless colleagues about the changes that occurred when 911 interrupted everything! There are so many stories about how God used that time to soften the hearts of people to understand the fragile nature of life. Rigidity would have been a huge mistake in that circumstance. Good leaders know that a ridged plan can be a destructive plan. Good leaders keep themselves open to change and the complexity of human life. They don’t “marry” their plan, they are faithful to the people they serve!

Conclusion:

A good leader is one who knows how to back off and listen. A good leader gets it, but doesn’t flaunt it. A good leader is only good because someone is following him/her. A good leader is respected not for his/her leadership, but for being honest and trustworthy. A good leader is, well, a good leader!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug has been a consultant to church leaders for 35 years and is anxious to be helpful to you in leadership, musical, and staffing considerations. Please click on his name above and email him. He's available to consult on the phone as well. 
Doug Lawrence

© 2008 Creator Magazine All Rights Reserved

Take a look...
My son, Steven, recorded a fabulous CD dedicated to his sister featuring some of the best jazz artists in Los Angeles. This is a wonderful product for pre-roll worship music in your church, or just to enjoy! A portion of the proceeds goes to cancer support groups. Go to his website and listen to some of your favorite hymns, praise songs, and a couple of unexpected surprises!

http://www.4julesrecords.com/

 

 

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