5 Opportunities To Build Up Leaders And Expand Your Capacity

A growing ministry will always demand more of your time, energy and attention.  If you try to do it all on your own you will fail.  You need other leaders to serve alongside of you. So, where do you find them?

Courtesy of Freiheitenwelt Martin Leonhardt/Creative Commons License

There isn’t a secret lair where leaders hide.  There isn’t a magic formula that you can concoct at home.  The way you build leaders to expand your capacity is by learning how to:

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO REPLACE YOURSELF 

When you replace yourself you give people the opportunity to step in, fill gaps and even take your ministry to a new level.  The problem can be identifying those opportunities.  5 opportunities to take advantage are:

DELEGATING THOSE TASKS YOU FIND ANNOYING

There are things that you might not like doing that others love to do.  There are people in your church that enjoy balancing a budget or updating websites.  You just need to identify them.

Get to know the people in your congregation and find out what they do in their spare time.  Ask the people you know, “Hey do you know anyone who likes to do…?”  Pray for these people and unload your plate.

HANDING OVER OWNERSHIP OF A PROJECT 

One of the best ways to build leaders is by allowing them to lead a project.  It shows you where their weaknesses and strengths lie.  You’ll be able to determine whether they are more operational or pastoral.

Start out by giving them an opportunity with low risk.  Walk with them through the process and sit with them afterwards to review.  As you build more leaders to take on projects it will allow you to take on more as a ministry.

ALLOWING THEM TO LEAD AND FACILITATE A MEETING

It’s easy to underestimate the amount of work that goes into leading a meeting.  As a leader you are not only thinking of content, but participation and absorbing everything that is being shared.

Take the burden off yourself and give someone else the opportunity to lead and facilitate.  Not only does it give you margin to process, but it shows the other person you trust them to lead conversations and collaboration.

GIVING THEM PERMISSION TO COMMUNICATE ON YOUR BEHALF

While your voice as a leader is important you need others to speak on your behalf.  They can help you spread ideas, and advocate for your ministry.

Find people who are enthusiastic about what you do.  Give them permission to speak on your behalf and thank them continuously.  The more you can build your voice, the clear your message will be.

COMMSSIONING THEM TO CARE FOR OTHER LEADERS

The people who serve in your ministry want to know they matter.  To reach everyone you need to find people who have the capacity to spread God’s love to others.

Find people in your church that are encouragers and cheerleaders.  Ask them to check-in with people, listen to them and pray with them.

If you want to build leaders so that you can expand your capacity you need to find opportunities for them to step up.  Not only will you find margin, but a trust that will build a solid foundation in your team.