In the last decade, leadership styles have gone through a metamorphosis.
Today, organizations have higher expectations from their leader,
looking for faster outcomes. The methodology for leadership is more
complex; the way teams are led and how the vision is accomplished
varies. Leadership has grown to be more elaborate and this new
complexity has unfortunately been the demise of much clarity. Leading
simply is the idea of pulling back to answer three basic questions: what
are we doing, why are we doing it, and what is my role in all of this?
When
a leader leads simply, he or she gives clarity for a chosen path to
help others reach a desired vision. Action and outcome needs to be
communicated in such a way that everyone involved knows their part for
reaching the ultimate goal, and this communication is the leader's
responsibility. Complexity is the enemy of clarity and the larger an
organization grows, the greater the need for continued clearness.
Leading simply by choice may alleviate confusion and provide greater
focus for an entire team.
Leading simply requires you to work
deep and wide. Your influence should go deep to the needs and reach
many with the redemptive work of the Kingdom. Leadership is about
influencing people to grasp on to the vision, and that happens by
leading simply and with focus. Invest in the team that will help to
navigate through the vision by valuing their role.
A vision will
require you to carve out a distinct culture that reflects the needs
that only your gathering of Christ followers can meet; it sets your
church apart. If you’re a leader, ask yourself, how are we as a church
going to add value to the lives of the people we encounter every day? It
isn’t about making everyone happy as they enter through your building
doors, but instead, it is about bringing value to their lives. The
influence of a strong leader requires not only a person who executes and
champions the vision but also a leader who can take the time to invest
in the conversations of those they lead. Opening the minds of those in
their community and taking the time to not only hear but also to listen
will help to further the vision. Understanding a church culture and
refining the ability to truly listen to others is essential to simple
leadership.
Let's examine one additional benefit from leading
simply - power. Power comes from simplicity and a true leader will need
to take time to refocus and remember why they are in their current
leadership role. Every church can make a spiritual mark on its
community, and a strong leader will be able to see where the church can
make a difference. This is the environment where God has placed your
church to serve, so within your position of leadership, can you identify
how God is calling you reach others? This is a powerful position to be
called to and it’s integral that a leader is able to refocus and realign
him or herself with simplicity in leadership while navigating multiple
opportunities for a congregation.
In the Quietness the Lord speaks the Loudest
As
a leader, listen to how God is speaking to you and explore what He
might be calling you to this upcoming year. What are three things you
can do to step further into where God is calling you to lead deeply and
wider? What are the risks you're willing to take to give up your plans
and be prepared for whatever He has in mind for His church?
Stripping
away the complexities of leadership and slowing the pace will require
patience, maybe even long suffering as the answers are not revealed
quickly. On a regular basis it is essential for a leader to look back to
the initial question of "What are we doing?" and "Why are we doing it?"
and just as important, "Where do I fit in?" Everyone needs to have a
game plan and know their place on the playing field. It keeps focus,
clarity and the end goal should always be in site. Three simple
questions can keep a leader focused in almost every scenario.
Growth
will require a leader to return to simplicity. Leading simply will calm
the chaos, streamline the what, where, why and how we lead and perhaps
reap a harvest of changed lives for the Kingdom
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