Transcript 2010 Mission Developer’s Conference: Leadership & Discipleship February 15, 2010 Three Leadership Myths 1.

2010 Mission Developer’s
Conference:
Leadership & Discipleship
February 15, 2010
Three Leadership Myths
1. Leaders are primarily problem solvers
– Called to be a question asker not an answer
giver
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What is the faithful thing to do?
Where is God already at work?
Where is the Spirit calling us?
– Pay attention to faith, community, service,
prayer, justice, gifts…
Three Leadership Myths
2. Leaders are primarily charismatic
individuals
– Pastoral and lay leaders are servants first
– Preach and teach so that people are
sustained, strengthened, and equipped
– Broken vessels – “cracked pots”
Three Leadership Myths
3. Leaders can solve any organizational
problem
– Church is not a machine
– Pastor is not a mechanic
– There’s no “Owner’s Manual”
– Complexity of community…
• …reality of sin
– Congregation is a living organism
So, WHO ARE WE?
The Pygmalion Effect:
What we believe to be true, how we act, and
what we SAY shapes our reality…
We’re stuck - out of money and people –
and there is NO FUTURE for us!
God has already given us everything we
need to do what God is calling us to do.
Our Words have POWER!
Our imaginings can CREATE new realities
and can shape our congregation’s selfimage, IF…
• We speak with authenticity
• We repeat a consistent message
• We develop a long-term strategy
What has Jesus taught us?
From that time, Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two
brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and
Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea –
for they were fishermen. And, he said to them,
“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
Immediately, they left their nets
and followed him.
Matthew 4:17-20
Learning from Jesus
This story offers one of the SIMPLEST, most
effective leadership recruitment AND
organizing strategies in the bible…
4 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS are present:
1. A VISION of the ministry
2. An appreciation of GIFTEDNESS
3. A clear DESCRIPTION of the ministry
task
4. A declaration of the IMPACT that will be
made.
1. Articulating a Vision
The BIG picture:
“Repent, for the kingdom of God
has come near.”
A well-articulated vision answers the question:
What is God’s purpose for this congregation?
Vision
Peter and Andrew followed because they were
compelled to TURN AROUND (repent!) and
embrace the NEW KINGDOM that Jesus was
offering them!
The vision provides a compelling REASON to
serve, and addresses these questions:
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Why are we doing this?
Why is this important?
Is this the most faithful response?
Where do I fit in?
Is this something worth doing?
Vision
• Does this congregation have a wellarticulated and well-known VISION?
• Is it faithful and compelling?
• Are our members excited about God’s
future for them?
• Is our vision part of every invitation made
to join and to serve in this congregation?
Alice & The Cheshire Cat…
• Alice: Cheshire Cat, would you tell me,
please, which way I ought to walk from here?
• Cheshire Cat: Well, that depends a good deal
on where you want to get to.
• Alice: Oh, it really doesn’t matter, so long as I
get somewhere
• Cheshire Cat: Then it really doesn’t matter
which way you go!
2. Appreciating Giftedness
When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, he
invited them to USE their gifts! He invited
them to a new ministry, but they could
keep on FISHING!
All of our efforts should be permeated with
an appreciation of each person’s GIFTS,
SKILLS, TALENTS, and TRAITS…this is
what motivates us, individually, and
collectively, as a congregation.
Giftedness Guides Ministry
• We build on God’s blessings
• Our gifts help define the vision, and
articulate our identity:
HOW we’re known, and what we’re BEST at
doing usually describes WHO WE ARE!
• We find the right people for the right job
• Gifted for ministry in daily life – we affirm
and support ministry in the world
3. Clear Task Descriptions
Jesus said, “Follow me, and
I will make you fish for people.”
Potential members or volunteers want to
know what is expected of them. A clearly
stated vision, and a plan for ministry, can
help people quickly recognize whether
there is a PLACE FOR THEM TO
BELONG.
NO ONE WANTS TO FAIL.
4. Impact of Ministry
Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to be
significant participants in the new kingdom
he was ushering in.
Who you are as a congregation must make
a difference beyond your walls, or no one
will want to be part of it.
Impact of Ministry
Don’t inflate or deflate the importance of the
ministry position.
• Why is painting the worship space important to
the ministry of the congregation?
• What difference does it make if we have a
Sunday School program?
• Why do we need this ministry team?
If you are recruiting for jobs that have little or no
meaning, end the recruiting, or end the jobs.
McClelland’s Theory of Motivation
Three types of motivation:
• Achievement
• Affiliation
• Power
Each person is motivated by one of these
types
Motivation Self-Test
What about YOU?
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he
came to a village where a woman named Martha
opened her home to him. She had a sister called
Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he
said. But Martha was distracted by all the
preparations that had to be made. She came to him
and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has
left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help
me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried
and upset about many things, but only one thing is
needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will
not be taken away from her."
Achievers (Martha)
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Love to solve problems and overcome obstacles
Concerned with setting personal goals
Like to work alone
Accomplish “important” things
Advancing their career
Seek out specific feedback
Get the job done – quicker, better, more
efficiently
Achievers in Church
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Program development
Leader in task maintenance
Attend to details
Special projects, events
Task groups
Regular volunteer ministries
Affiliators (Mary)
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Motivated by relationships
“People Person”
Need affirmation, harmony, and cohesion
Avoid conflict
Care-givers, sympathetic ear, a shoulder
to cry on
Affiliators in Church
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Greeters, callers, fellowship events
Visitation, hosts, counselors
Relational “glue” in community
Talk, share, discuss issues
Feelings
Power Motivated People
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Influencing others
Changing behavior and ideas
Verbal, outspoken, forceful
Seen as “leaders”
Winning arguments, directing others, beating the
competition
• Status is important
• Positive – power and influence to help others
• Negative – dominance, prestige, authority
Power People in Church
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Make things happen
Develop policies, strategic plans
Cast vision
Teachers, preachers, leaders
Influential and inspiring
Strive for excellence - potential
What about your congregation?
Every congregation needs ALL three types:
people motivated by achievement,
affiliation, and power.
If you are “over-stocked” in any one type, be
intentional about leadership development
in the other areas.
Recognize the need for balance.
Guiding Principles for
Empowering Leadership
• Focus on the RIGHT things
– VISION-oriented ministry
– Leadership Development
– Organic mission and multiplication with giftbased programs
– Where’s the pain?
– Where’s the opportunity?
• Provide powerful Mentoring
– Critical for sustaining momentum
– Empowerment for ministry
Guiding Principles for
Empowering Leadership
• Cultivate a clear and compelling vision
– What do you really want?
– Paint the picture for others
• Maintain a long-term focus
– Good things don’t come easily
– Count the cost – it is HIGH
• Build a guiding coalition
– Who else is passionately committed?
– Don’t wait for everyone to join the convoy!
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Thanks to Bob Logan - CoachNet
Guiding Principles for
Empowering Leadership
• Reflect and Celebrate
– Gather, share, pray, worship…
– Embrace the synergy of community
• Invite others to share the journey
– Who else?
– What’s next?
Empowering Leaders…
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Empower other Christians for ministry
Do not use lay workers as "helpers“
Assist others to reach their spiritual potential
Equip, support, motivate, and mentor individuals
Multiply, guide, empower and equip disciples
Invert the pyramid of authority
Work together to accomplish God’s vision
Spend the majority of their time in discipleship,
delegation, and multiplication
The Disciple-Leader
• A Christian leader is someone who is
called by God and the church to grow in
his or her faith and to courageously and
joyfully share that faith with others through
word and action.
• Congregations are disciple-making
communities
Jesus said…
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them, and their great ones
are tyrants over them.
It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to
be great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be
your slave;
just as the Son of Man came not to be served but
to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(Matthew 20:25-28)
Disciple Leaders
• Journey begins in baptism
• Disciple Leaders are not born – they are
shaped and molded
• Formed through the means of grace
– Word and Sacrament
– Bible Study and Prayer
– Fellowship
• Start the process with children and youth
It All Begins with Gifts
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the
same Spirit, and there varieties of
services, but the same Lord, and there are
varieties of activities, but it is the same
God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the
Spirit for the common good.
(1 Cor. 12:4-7)
It All Begins with Gifts
• Everyone is gifted by God
• Gifted for a purpose – build up the body of
Christ and it’s ministry to the world
• Blessed to be a blessing
• Gifts grow as we give them away
• “You complete me!”
Developing Leaders
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters
is anything, but only God who gives growth.
1 Corinthians 3:7
We don’t grow leaders – God does!
Disciple leaders are already in your congregation, and
in your community…the seeds have already been
planted!
The harvest IS plentiful…
But the laborers are few…Our task is to water,
fertilize, prune, and nurture what God has already
planted.
Recruitment Guidelines
• One-on-one interviews are the best practice: the
more important the job, the more important the
interview
• Blanket requests for volunteers are the least
effective practice
• Use public announcements as a way to invite
further discussion
• Let people say NO
• Keep the door open for participation in other
areas, and for later involvement
Personalizing the Process
One-on-One Interviews:
• What are you good at?
• What are your gifts and talents?
• What are you passionate about?
• Where is God calling you to use your gifts
and talents?
Put together a TEAM of interviewers! Ask
these questions of ALL members, and
visitors, too!
Leadership Development Plan
Set up REGULAR training opportunities for
Disciple-Leaders
Make sure all leadership development efforts
include:
• Quality Content
• A variety of learning styles
• Consideration for the motivations of the
participants
The Wisdom of Yogi Berra:
If you don’t know where you are
going, chances are you will end
up somewhere else!
Learning from Jesus
4 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS:
1. A VISION of the ministry
2. An appreciation of GIFTEDNESS
3. A clear DESCRIPTION of the ministry
task (a PLAN!)
4. A declaration of the IMPACT that will be
made.
Grounded to Lead
As a disciple leader, God invites you to see
God’s people through new eyes. This
congregation is a precious and beautiful
creation. It is a JOY to behold!
LEADERSHIP
Vs.
MANAGEMENT
Pastor’s are called to lead
NOT to manage
Leadership is not Management!
• Management is a bottom line focus:
– How can I best accomplish certain things?
• Leadership deals with the top line:
– What are the things I want to accomplish?
Leadership is not Management!
• Management is doing things right…
• Leadership is doing the right things!
• Management is efficiency at climbing the ladder
of success.
• Leadership determines whether the ladder is
leaning against the right wall.
Stephen Covey – 7 Habits
We need Leaders to “...provide
the force necessary to organize
resources in the right direction.”
(P. Drucker)
Not control, efficiency, and rules But direction, purpose, and feeling!
Final Thoughts
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There's No Substitute for Excellence
Know Where You're Going
Learn to Say No
Don't Underestimate the Value of
Community
• Recruit Like a College Football Team
Ron Reynolds, the Executive Director of CAPSO –
California Association of Private School Organizations
Everyday Ask Yourself…
What is the one thing that I can do that
nobody else can do? What is MY
SPRITUAL GIFT?
And then go and do it!
Go and “equip the saints…”
Go and lead!
When GOOD isn’t GOOD EnoughThe 6 Deadly Sins of Leadership
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When Leaders stop growing
– They think they have it all figured out
– They still work hard, but not on themselves
2. When Leaders stop thinking/dreaming BIG
– They play it safe
– They play NOT to Lose – rather than to win
3. When Leaders stop leading from the front
– They assume that everything’s under control
– They hide out in the office/pew to preside
and administer -- but no longer lead
From Dave Anderson – Up Your Business (Arrivals - AirTran)
When GOOD isn’t GOOD EnoughThe 6 Deadly Sins
When Leaders stop “turning out” new leaders
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Delegate or Die – Share the power
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Coach your way to the “bottom” – build a team
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When Leaders stop holding others accountable
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They don’t expect much…raise the bar
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They let the under-performers rule the roost
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When Leaders forget the basics
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They stop doing the things that made them great
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They get lazy and live in the past (Remember when…)
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From Dave Anderson – Up Your Business (Arrivals - AirTran)
Bottom line tips!
• It’s a whole lot easier when you partner
with the Lord
• Make it fun – laugh
• Use stress management techniques:
Rule 1 – Don’t sweat the small stuff
Rule 2 – It’s all small stuff!
Don’t sweat the petty stuff and…
Don’t pet the sweaty stuff!