Leaders often struggle with questions of “Am I effective?” or “Why isn’t this working?” in the course of their leadership. Organizational leaders and pastors are often plagued with such questions because unlike their for-profit counterparts, non-profit leaders often work with very limited resources of people and money.
Forbes gives business leaders “5 Counterintuitive Habits Of Truly Authentic Leaders” that transfer easily to congregations. Maseena Zieglar writes:
We live in an era in which increasingly, leaders who are authentic, and who translate this into shared value for their people, whether shareholders or stakeholders, employees, customers or constituents, are the ones who have true and lasting impact – ultimately making the world a better place to live in. Striving for authenticity in leadership is the new kind of success to aspire to, and may well one day be the measure by which some aspects of performance are evaluated.
Zieglar states that the following five qualities are effective for authentic leaders:
1. They surround themselves with advisors who can tell them why they are wrong.
True leaders and pastors are humble enough to listen and consider alternative view points. Often, folks just want to be heard in the church… especially during congregation meetings.
2. They acknowledge that they are biased.
When pastors and church leaders are honest about their views, most congregants will better understand where their leaders are coming from.
3. They recognize that in order to be great, they have to be bad.
What Zieglar is getting at here is knowing your limitations. Church leaders cannot do everything well. They need others. By focusing on what you are good at, you don’t try to spread yourself or your church too thin.
4. They use their time in the wilderness well.
There are obvious biblical connections here. Moses and Jesus spent time in their wilderness and it was not easy. However, they used their experience in the wilderness to learn and for God to shape their ministry and leadership.
5. They strive to make their leadership last in their absence.
Missionaries say that best missionaries are the ones who work themselves out of their job because they can walk away and the local peoples do the missionary work. In congregations, good leaders are the ones that teach others how to lead so that a legacy of quality leadership is established.
Leadership is more art than science. Practicing these 5 counter counterintuitive behaviors will create a positive leadership culture in your church or organization.
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