Here are a few things I have learned about leadership from being in ministry for the past ten years. These are not all new concepts and any truth that has been gleaned from life and/or experience was true before me. I pray this list helps you think through who you are as a leader. We can all grow as a leader whether we own; a company, lead a Boy Scout troop, teach a Sunday school class, or parent a child.
1. Always model loyalty: Have the back of those in authority over you and your followers will have
yours.
2. Do not criticize an individual in front of others (even constructively). Do it in private and you will
gain appreciation rather than resentment.
3. When a staff member or volunteer is having a crisis write it down, commit it to prayer, and ask
about it periodically. This communicates that you care.
4. Do not micromanage: If you believe that your organization would be better if you could only clone
yourself then perhaps leadership is not for you. Leadership is about empowering people. If you
can't trust your people to run with an idea then they either need training or replacing.
5. Notice exceptional achievement: If a job is well done do not miss an opportunity to let the
individual know. This simple accolade will hopefully lead to a trend in a higher quality of work.
6. Admit your own mistakes. Others already see them anyway and it will help them appreciate and
relate to you.
7. Pray for your staff or volunteers daily.
8. Explain your vision: If your vision is unclear to your followers then it will only be rooted in your
mind but never gain legs in the real world.
9. Public appreciation for staff or volunteers: Never underestimate the benefit of this small gesture.
10. Pull up the anchor: Occasionally you will have to let someone go because they are holding your
organization back. Do this with kindness but do it nonetheless. Do not put it off. Your
effectiveness be limited until you do. Leaders must make the tough decisions.
What principles are missing? What would you add to this list. Leave a comment and pass this article on to those it may benefit. I look forward to gleaning from what you have learned as I continue to grow as a leader.
4 comments:
Great points, I will add that the person who thinks they need to clone themselves to get things done... is missing the major trait of a leader which is the ability to inspire others to be the best that they can me and as you point out empower them. People need to remember that the organization was there before them and will be there after they are gone, unless they really mess it up.
Great point! Life does not revolve around us and neither does our organization.
read this when you first wrote it. I printed it out and stuck it in my journal! Thanks for helping me be a better leader Nate!
Thanks for the encouragement Laura.
Post a Comment