This coming year we have committed as a church family to grow together as disciples of Christ. We are embarking on a year long endeavor to read through the Bible. We are using the ESV Daily Bible Reading plan and I am encouraging every one to journal their daily devotionals using the R.E.A.P. (Read, Examine, Apply, Pray) Bible study method. Both of those items can be found on a special micro-site we have rolled out here.
I’ve been thinking a lot about influence as of late and one thing is becoming increasingly apparent, you either have influence or you don’t. John Maxwell popularized the notion that leadership is influence and that is quite true. I’ve witnessed that those that we respect in leadership don’t need to incessantly demand things, yell at their subordinates, berate, manipulate and control things to get their way — No, they simply whisper and their influence sets in motion the very things they requested. That’s influence!
This is where young leaders miss the boat in their first leadership assignment. They haven’t built enough “influence capital” with others through respect, trust, listening, valuing others and collaboration. Positional influence is the weakest level of leadership. Instead of whispering, those without influence have to roar–they have to flex their muscles, they have to make themselves stand out as if screaming, “Do what I tell you to do, I’m the boss!” When you influence from a place of relationship and respect you can go a whole lot further faster. You can whisper, but it will be received as a ROAR that makes things happen.
What are you doing to build your influence capital with your team so that your whisper can be received as a roar?
Technorati Tags: leadership
Heading out this afternoon for Story conference in Chicago. Great lineup of communicators and very excited about getting to meet some of the folks I love to follow.
Tony Morgan posted Phil Cooke and Brad Abare’s “5 Warning Signs of a Personality-Driven Church” in his blog today. The full article they wrote is in the current issue of Outreach Magazine.
Here is a summary of the 5 warning signs they identify:
1. The pastor doesn’t go on a vacation for any significant length of time. And, when he does, it isn’t announced.
2. When the pastor doesn’t preach, the attendance drops.
3. Unspoken fear that if something happened to the pastor, the church would be in trouble.
4. The pastor is unwilling to listen to and consult other team members. The staff and volunteers are there to carry out the directions of the pastor.
5. There’s no succession plan in place; therefore, leadership development isn’t happening.
Here are some that I would add to that list:
I think some would add that multi-site has taken this cult of personality to another level, however, I would disagree with that assessment. Many of the prominent names in the multi-site movement do not appear to have over-inflated personalities. Certainly not like the personalities in the distinctive I have been a part of.
Having said all that, as a lead pastor now, I do understand that your personality is wrapped up in the work and the church by nature of the fact that you are the most visible persona. You set the vision, chart the course and give direction. You and the church you lead are inseparable in the minds of people. I don’t know any way around that. That in and of itself is not a terrible thing, however, like anything else, can play to the selfish motives that are hidden and lurk deep within our hearts. Our hearts are capable of unspeakable evil when they are not surrendered fully to Jesus.
Where are the men and women who follow the example of Christ as mentioned in Philippians 2:3-11? When we are the celebrity and not Jesus we are in a very dangerous place. Everything the lead pastor does must point to Jesus as being the Head of the Church. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, Senior Pastor and Apostle of the Church. The sheep belong to Him, not to us. Last I checked, I haven’t read of any pastor that shed his own blood, and gave his own life as a ransom for many. Any time we seek to elevate our name and personality above that of Jesus, well, I think that is referred to as idolatry.
“The human heart is a factory of idols…Everyone of us is, from his mother’s womb, expert in inventing idols.” –John Calvin
Your thoughts?
Lord Save Us From Your Followers, Dan Merchant’s much anticipated documentary about Christianity’s PR problem, opens today in select theaters. It will no doubt spark tremendous controversy and hopefully, much conversation. Go to the website and watch some of the clips and follow the story.
Here’s the movie trailer:
