Partnering With Today's Leaders for Tomorrow's Success

At times in my coaching of pastors and CEO’s of Christian organizations, my heart goes out to the person I’m coaching. People are attacking their leadership. That’s so common I consider it little more than “white noise.” But what breaks my heart is when pastors and other leaders believe the criticism.

Truth is, any and all of us can justly be criticized for our leadership. None of us is perfect. Truth is, often the one’s criticizing would make a mess of things if they were in leadership. Maybe they were and did! It’s also true that some people have more innate leadership skills than others. The fact there are natural-born leaders out there does not mean the rest of us are failures.

Over the years, I have seen people born with very little natural leadership ability still lead very effectively. What’s their secret? How do they do it? Simple. They study highly effective leaders and observe how they lead. And then they learn how to act like effective leaders act.

Read more: Act Like a Leader!

Below is a quote from an article by Bill Easum, Mel Lawrenz, Adele Calhoun, and Rich Nathan | posted 4/19/2010.

“We can organize more and more ministries—worship experiences, Bible classes, small-group fellowships, support groups, outreach opportunities, mission encounters—and yet, for all this, we still struggle with the most basic goal: fostering spiritual growth. In fact, church activities sometimes get in the way of spiritual growth… How can churches help and not hinder the Great Commission—the making of disciples of Jesus?

Do you agree or disagree with this comment and how would you answer their question?

The other day two things converged to reaffirm for me a key leadership lesson. First I found myself re-reading of “Winning on Purpose” by John Kaiser. Second I had the occasion to watch the movie Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2006).

The leadership lesson is: In great causes a primary leader is essential

Kaiser’s book presents both the rationale and practicalities for pastor lead churches.

Read more: One Cause, One Commander

It takes no real talent to take the simple and make it sound complex. Now taking something complex and making it simple enough for even a child to understand is a fine art practiced by way too few people. General Colin Powell once said, “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers.”

During England’s darkest days in World War II, Winston Churchill demonstrated that truth. London was under siege from the German Luftwaffe. The relentless barrage of bombs was eroding the spirit and resolve of the English people. While many things needed to be done to in order to survive the attacks and win the war, Churchill wisely narrowed his messages to the people down to the bare essential thing from which all the other things would flow.

Read more: Keep It Simple, Simon

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