Two, then three and then four years would pass by and I was frustrated. I was frustrated because I wondered, “When would we arrive?” Meaning, when would we be a top-level ministry that could go into cruise control? It would take another year before I knew the answer.
The answer is that you never “ARRIVE” in fact your ministry. The same goes when it comes to your leadership. Both should constantly be growing. If you think you’ve arrived then you’ll only be in a state of denial. If you stay at that level your ministry will eventually breakdown and die. To keep it moving to a new level you need to focus on your leadership and:
- Acknowledge The Fact That You Are Not Perfect: There is a pressure to do all and be all. The truth is you are no where near perfect and that you need assistance. Once you can admit that ministry is not meant to be done on it’s own you will reach a new level. To discover your weaknesses create a list, talk to people who know you and start letting go.
- Equip People Who Are Passionate: It’s easy to become too focused on recruiting volunteers who are exactly like you. While it’s great to have some things in common with your team, it will make you one dimensional. Look for people who are passionate about the areas in which you struggle. Do not feel guilty about giving them a task you despise, because if you can fuel their passion they will bring your ministry to a new level. Start out by advertising those specific roles, and ask your current team to help recruit.
- Put Your Best People In The Biggest Opportunities: Plugging people in the holes in your ministry is not the easiest thing to do. Before you put your best people in an opportunity determine whether it is worth the effort. Some systems cannot be fixed. Putting anyone in a hopeless situation will lead to burnout.
- Do What Only You Can Do Well: You need to lead from your strengths not your weaknesses. That means identifying the tasks and responsibilities only you can perform. Delegate the rest; however, fine tune your craft. Dedicate time to learning, practicing and bringing it to the next level. The better you become at doing what only you can do the more you’ll emerge as a leader.
Be a leader who is constantly looking to take it to the next level. That means examining where God is leading you and challenging yourself to grow. Never stop moving unless God is saying otherwise. A ministry that moves and grow is one that continues to be relevant and make church matter.
How do you grow as a leader?