Time to end myopic leadership

No one would question Hebrews 13:17 nonetheless it is mans interpretation of this scripture that leads to and causes division within the church.  Yes! God loves the church but how he must feel when he sees leaders using and abusing their position.  After many years of being a qualified leader, a leader since the age of 16 as well teaching thousands of people leadership skills from MD’s to shop floor, from Pastors to church members, it really saddens me to see grown men and women frightened of a church leader. 

Let me give you a hypothetical situation:

A church uses home groups to engage the church, overseeing them are the second tier of leaders within the church.  So far so good, the second tier leaders are to have regular meetings with home group leaders in order that feedback on the spiritual health of the church and any issues that the church could help with.

Once again great no problem, however in reality that does not happen why?  The second tier leaders only meet with the home group leaders when the church leader asks how things are.   The immediate effect is to panic hold a meeting within a couple of days, it is poorly communicated and the reality is that (personal experience) if anyone says the slightest or shows the slightest discord the group leader immediately changes from engaging to dictatorial and thus no one speaks the truth and all play the party line.  The interpretation of the meeting is fed back up the line and often it bore no relationship to the meeting. However they then can say we have had a meeting didn’t we do well.

Let me give you some basic differences between an inept leader and a transformational leader:

Inept  Leader                                                  Transformational  Leader

Relies and depends on authority                                      Relies on goodwill

Drives church members                                                   Coaches people

Inspires fear

(unwritten rules e.g. I expect all to do this..)                 Generates warmth and enthusiasm

Uses the “I” word a lot                                                     Uses “we”

Uses and expects people to do more because

he/she is the leader                                                           Develops people

Commands                                                                           Asks

Says, “Go”                                                                         Says, “Let’s go”        

Simply ask yourself which side am I predominantly on and if for example you have any on the Inept side ask yourself how to I transform myself to move to the other side?