Developing leaders in your church is a crucial part of building a strong, vibrant community of believers. But all too often, church leaders struggle to answer the question of “how” to develop leaders. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of understanding the “why” behind leadership development.
For many churches, the primary motivation for developing leaders is the need to address a shortage of leaders.
They see a leadership gap hindering their mission and overloading their staff, and they see leadership development as a way to fill that gap. While this may be a necessary reason to focus on leadership development, it’s not always the most effective approach.
When we’re driven by our own pain and the need to address a problem, we’re more likely to create short-term strategies that don’t produce the long-term results we want. Instead of building a strong, consistent pipeline of leaders, we end up in a start-stop cycle, focusing on leadership development for a season and then neglecting it again when the pain subsides.
But there’s another way to approach leadership development.
Instead of focusing on our own needs and problems, we can actually work to cultivate the leadership gifts in others. When we’re motivated by the potential of others rather than our own pain, our efforts at leadership development become a natural part of our routine. We focus on building leaders who can fulfill their God-given potential and contribute to the mission of the church.
Ultimately, the most effective leadership development strategies are those that are built on a deep conviction and a long-term vision. When we’re driven by a passion for helping others grow and develop, we’re more likely to create a plan that produces the quality and quantity of leaders we need. So take some time to consider the “why” behind your leadership development efforts. By understanding your motivations, you can build a strategy that truly makes a difference in the lives of your church’s leaders.
Leader take aways:
- Reflect on the “why” behind your leadership development efforts. Are you driven by a need to address a leadership shortage, or are you motivated by a desire to cultivate the leadership gifts in others? Understanding your motivations can help you create a more effective leadership development strategy.
- Create a long-term vision for leadership development. Instead of focusing on short-term solutions to address immediate problems, think about the impact you want to have on the leaders in your church in the long run. This can help you create a plan that is sustainable and produces lasting results.
And if you want some help with your vision for leadership development book a call with our team here!
