What’s The Bottom Line To Your Ministry?
Courtesy of robinsonsmay/Creative Commons License How good is your elevator speech? If you aren’t familiar with that term, it’s when you have to get...
What’s Fueling Your Leadership?
Christopher Wesley
Jun 30, 2020
When you think about the qualities of a leader, what comes to your mind? I typically get responses like CREATIVITY, HUMILITY, and COURAGE. Maybe a specific person or group of people comes to mind. And often, when we see those people, we think they are born that way. The truth is we’re all born with the potential to lead others. Where and how we lead depends on where God has placed us, but if you want to hit your full potential, then it’s crucial to:
LEARN HOW TO FOLLOW FIRST
Your journey is unique; however, others have traveled similar paths. When you take time to observe and follow others, you can pick up on skills, tools, and habits that will strengthen your ability to lead. As I’ve followed leaders either up close or from afar, I’ve learned the power of journaling, empathetic listening, and coaching.
If you are not sure where to begin, look at pivotal or difficult moments in history. Identify the individuals who lead communities through those times. While there is something to learn from each story, don’t be discouraged if you don’t identify with everyone. Pick and choose the characteristics that resonate with you, test them out in your own life to see if they fit.
It’s also essential to identify leaders you can interact with regularly. That might be someone in your parish or community. Your church has teachers, managers, and entrepreneurs who can help you learn more about the leader God has instilled inside of you.
MAKE TIME TO FILL YOUR CUP
When you run on empty, you take too many unnecessary risks that can lead to disaster. Your formation as a leader is critical, and that’s why you need to take the time to invest in your:
- Spiritual Formation
- Pastoral Formation
- Intellectual Formation
- Human Formation
As a leader, you should be asking the question, “How am I growing?” Taking courses, going on retreats, meeting with a spiritual director or therapist is only the beginning. If you are feeling overwhelmed by responsibility, it is a sign that you have to step back and refuel. If you are feeling underwhelmed and bored, it’s a sign that you need to grow. The best step is to make learning and growth a part of your regular work and personal schedule.
The more you fill your cup, the better prepared you will be to take on the ministry gauntlet we face. You’ll make better decisions and have confidence. Plus, when you have a full cup, you are better at sharing that with others.
CARE FOR YOUR BROKENNESS
Leadership does not mean you are perfect. The best leaders own their brokenness and have used it to help others embrace theirs. While acknowledging your imperfection is healthy, it’s also essential to address it. Your prayer life is vital. If you are not inviting God to heal your wounds and strengthen your heart, then you will find it difficult to lead others. And, it’s not easy to address that brokenness; that’s why we need support.
That support can come in the role of a spiritual director, therapist, coach, or all three. Allowing others to work with you on your flaws, shortcomings, sins, and mistakes will give you the support and accountability you need to grow. If you are not sure where to begin reaching out to your diocese or insurance company to see what is available. Make sure you don’t overlook this principle because it can help us avoid some of the biggest pitfalls.
INVEST IN FUTURE LEADERSHIP
Leaders grow when they share their platform and what’s in their cup. When you invest in future leadership, you are not only ensuring that the vision moves forward, but you are embracing one of the essential characteristics of leadership, and that’s humility. Leadership is a responsibility that God has given us for our time here on earth. The gift of leading others is designed to be passed on to those around us.
It does not matter if you work with young people or not, finding someone to mentor is key to growing a healthy ministry. You’ll strengthen the ministry’s efforts to reach people, and you’ll protect its future progress. Take some time to think about who you should invest in and then invite them to learn.
Your leadership will be fueled by the steps you take to invest in yourself and those around you. A healthy leader knows that the more they learn to love God, love others, and themselves, the more they’ll be able to address the obstacles that are standing in the way of them reaching the vision.