I’m sad to write that I’m leaving Salem Church Products, a division of Salem Media Group and the maintainer of Church Media Blog. I’ve had a fantastic run during the past year. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and more importantly—learned a lot about leadership from those above me organizationally. Nonetheless, God is calling me to a new season in my life. I’m starting a church plant as head pastor. I have had the opportunity to begin this process a few months ago, and I’m going to share a few things I’ve learned that might be helpful to other leaders and pastors.
Whether you’re a church planter or an influencer in other areas, gathering the right people is essential to any task. Typically, when gathering people, we often just take anyone willing to do the work. This can be detrimental to the sustainability and growth of an organization, especially during the incubation phase. Having the wrong people on board can thwart the vision and mission that has been laid before you, the visionary, and the organization. I’m going to give you three steps in making sure that you have the right people on board to help grow the organization and create leadership within a new organization or program.
1. Live today, think of tomorrow, plan for years to come.
In order to thrive today, you have to plan for the future. When I’m looking at people to be apart of our launch team, I’m looking for the right people who fill particular roles. Those roles that are needed to do the tasks necessary to launch a startup. To be successful, in any organization, you have to clearly map out what you need and why. To figure out the why, you have to have vision and goals for the future. Every time I have a conversation with someone about Center Church, the church plant I’m starting here in Richmond, I wonder to myself, “How can his or her gifts be utilized to further our reach in the city and to bring about our mission.” I know exactly where the organization needs to go and I know the roles needed in order to fulfill our mission. For some of you, it might be beneficial to sit down and to map out EXACTLY where you’re going to be in the future. By planning for the future, you’re planning for growth and ultimately sustainability. I never plan for today, only for the years to come.
2. Leaders that network
This is going to be a short one. Everyone on your team has influence and people around him or her with incredible potential. Strong leaders know that tapping into the network of other people opens up a vast well of opportunities. You need to catalyze your leaders with a vision of the future and explain clearly the needs the organization has. There is no weakness in being honest about your needs, only the opportunity.
3. Do less to empower more
Doing less is creating opportunities of empowerment for others. Good leaders give away appropriate levels of leadership in order to be leader multipliers, not leadership hoarders. A quick way to tell if you’re a leader multiplier or a leadership hoarder is by your thoughts and your ability to give away tasks. If you think you can do something better, or a person isn’t going to do it well—you’re a leadership hoarder and are missing an opportunity to multiply yourself. If you’re just giving away safe tasks, the ones any ordinary person can do, you’re not promoting leadership development. You are a delegator and a leadership hoarder.
As a leader, I have found that it’s best to give away tasks and coach when you need to coach. By doing this, I am sending a message of belief to those that I’m leading. In fact by your actions, you are saying, “I believe in you.” These four words, “I believe in you,” can move someone on the margins of your organization to the center of ownership. Owners are more likely to spend countless hours helping the vision come into fruition. Owners take responsibility and multiply leaders themselves.
