Podcast Episode #388
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Ever known a leader who didn’t lead? They may have had the position to do so, but just didn’t follow through with the action. Today, we discuss why.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Leadership is not something you attain. Leadership is a progressive journey.
- Too many leaders don’t actually know how to lead.
- Too many pastors are trying not to be autocratic that they aren’t actually leading.
- True leaders are constant learners.
- You can learn by both mentoring and being mentored.
- People who are no longer leading are often people who are no longer learning.
The five reasons leaders fail to lead are:
- They are weary of conflict and criticism.
- They don’t know how to lead.
- They overreact to autocratic leadership.
- They don’t have people speaking into their lives on a regular basis.
- They always seek consensus.
Episode Sponsors
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Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?
Seems clear to me (a non-leader) that a “leader who stops leading” is/was no leader at all. True leadership is not a position to be sought after. A title does not make a leader Too many “leaders” aspired to “leadership” roles. Looking at Biblical examples, I can’t think of ANY who prepared or sought for that position or title. (Just sayin’.)
Possibly the answer that the leader wasn’t a leader in the first place. But that often isn’t the case, especially in churches. A Parish or congregation calls a pastor to lead because a number of people see leadership skills that are needed. But the new leader isn’t like the beloved (and often fictitious) leader of old and is undercut by other leaders in the church.
I offer the title of a book about hostile environments for leaders entitled “When Sheep Attack” by Dennis R. Maynard.
I shouldn’t have been so quick to respond initially. I failed to listen to the podcast. (I also confess to being a bit jaded when it comes to “professionalism” and “business-style” criteria applied to ministry.) It certainly is possible that a parish or congregation looks for its leaders with a “business-style” mindset. At any rate, we are flawed – sheep and shepherds alike. Hostile environments are obvious indications of our great need for God’s grace and mercy.
I think it is actually very rare that pastors are called by their churches because the people there have recognised their ability to lead. Usually the pastors are unknown to everyone in the church, hired in from outside, and all that the church members have to assess them on is hearing them preach on two or three occasions. Many people who are able to deliver a sermon have no concept of the other duties required of a pastor, or necessary for an effective ministry. They can have a very narrow view of what church leadership entails, assuming that all that is required is for them to preach three times a week, and that their responsibility ends there. (This could often be based on experience, on the fact that they have grown up in churches where they never have seen a pastor do anything other than preach). I think it is certain that there are many men out there who enjoy studying the Bible, who enjoy teaching God’s Word, perhaps being heavily burdened with the importance of the task – and yet they have neither the heart nor the initiative nor the abilities for anything else, but they end up as the sole pastor of a church where really they would be more effective as part of a team ministry, where other were able to actually fulfil the leadership role and give direction and purpose and effectiveness to the preacher’s labours.
Being a Pastor I would also like to add that so many of our churches are struggling and are past the point of no return. It’s difficult to “lead” when really what is needed is a Chaplain to care for the congregation.
There is a lack of understanding of what it means to be a pastor in today’s world. He is supposed to be a leader. Timothy was to look to how a potential pastor leads or manages his own family ( 1 Timothy 3:4-5). The passage argues from a lessor, leading in the home, to a greater which is leading in the church. I wonder if there might be a correlation between the breakdown of healthy family units (i.e. dysfunctional families) and the lack of understanding of what it means to be a godly leader. More and more, the pastor seems to be viewed as just a nice guy who helps people feel better.
Too timely……just raised the white flag of surrender at my church…gave up all my leadership “pastoral” responsibilities. I have decided my role is to preach on Sunday’s and teach on Wed Night. I am sure this will get me fired, but I am at a loss. After 7 years of investing in these sheep – I keep getting bit by them! HARD! and they come after my wife and daughters too! They are a rebellious and stiff necked crew. I pray God has mercy on them.
As Pastor, this church called me – voted me in – and with that vote took on some responsibilities to follow me – so long as I am following God. I have faithfully kept my responsibilities to them and have sought after God and His will for His church. Presented His word and vision and the people reject it!
I have done the things I am supposed to do as their Pastor – both from a Biblical point of view and from the human preferences … I teach sound doctrine. I sacrifice to be there for them in their time of illness or need – day or night. I visit their “sister’s cousin’s husband who needs Jesus” in hopes He will respond to The Gospel – that THEY as believers also have a responsibility to present but insist “He will come around, if only The Pastor would make an effort”, and so on…..
But they have not kept their responsibilities to me. They reject every vision I cast, every suggestion I make. I think a few of them just say NO because I said YES. They allow a church boss with the purse strings to speak into every little issue that she desires to have a say so in, while telling me I am out of line for having an opinion on how the pulpit should be arranged. They demand church growth – but fail to minister to new families that visit, or even go with me out into the community to invite people to get to know us.
So – YES – I am a leader who is failing to lead! Guilty as charged. OR…could it be… sheep are failing to follow….
Sorry for the vent…just a sore subject….