22
Jan

Got Leadership?

   Posted by: Shane   in Leadership

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Some say that leadership can be learned… I understand that idea, but I disagree. Leadership skills and methods can be learned but I’m of the opinion that true leadership ability is a gift that cannot be learned or grown into. A real leader doesn’t need to read a book or blog to increase his/her leadership ability, he or she does so to sharpen their insight and gift.

The number one challenge for NewSpring Church (not to mention all churches, groups and organizations) is finding leaders. We want to grow and grow in the right way, but without passionate and competent leaders the effort is stunted. It is difficult, at best, to find a leader. Not just someone who has led something, but a true leader. Real leaders can be hard to find because some without the gift have mastered the art of mimicking it. It is when those who mimic the gift are placed in the fire (especially the fire of ministry) they are exposed and unfortunately the wake of destruction they leave is usually wide.

So, how does one distinguish a leader from a pretender? I don’t know for sure, but here are a few thoughts I have in regards to the qualities that should be found in a real leader.

A real leader…

• looks to get involved in solving problems instead of running from them.
• defends his team first before making excuses for himself.
• rejects offers to leave his team for the sake of personal advancement.
• knows when he is placing a lid on the ones he leads and is quick to get out of their way.
• inspires those he leads with his commitment, care, attitude and effort… and then his words… if necessary.
• is followed.
• speaks truth in love and never forsakes the vision or lowers the bar.
• inspires growth without demanding it from those he leads.
• is one his people want to be around and not one they dread seeing.
• has a desire to be led and not left alone.
• realizes that he is a part of the team… not above or better than the team.
• encourages and invites critique of his abilities from the ones he leads.
• sees defeat as a learning experience and not the end of the world.
• stays calm in the midst of calamity and does his best leading when the times are the toughest.
• doesn’t make decisions by looking at popular opinion or traditional values.
• challenges the status quo and risks his reputation to do so… not for notoriety or gain, but because its the right thing to do.

Just a few thoughts of my own…. I’d love to hear what you believe to be the qualities of a real leader.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 11:33 am and is filed under Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

11 comments so far

Jamie
 1 

A great leader leaves a great wake. Like a boat through water, there is always a wake in life. It is either filled with people who would do it all over again with you, or broken, damaged people who are worse off because of you. My measure of a great leader is what people who have been affected by him say about him. (The idea is from Henry Cloud, “Integrity”)

Wanna see if Shane’s a great leader? Ask @mcdzl, @avclub, @karlz (twitter names) or anyone else closely affected by him.

I got you Shane. You are one of my heroes. This post right here “speaks truth in love and never forsakes the vision or lowers the bar.”

January 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Charles
 2 

Dead on right

Above all else he handles EVERYTHING with prayer.

It sounds cliché but WWJD works everytime

January 22nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Dean Cooper
 3 

My 2 cents . . . a great leader is kind to the people he leads. Another trait is that his people know he loves them - without him ever having to tell them.

January 22nd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Shane
 4 

Dean, nice addition… Totally agree.

January 22nd, 2009 at 9:41 pm
chris rivers
 5 

Great Post. As I miggle more in this leadership role God has given me in my own church and the churches i work with i am challenged to commit to these principles. It is not always the people we work with that need to change, but the one in the mirror. Even though some have different motives unlike that of Christ, it is not our job to judge but to encourage and bless. Great stuff you now are on my RSS feed. ;)

January 23rd, 2009 at 7:32 am
beth
 6 

Wow. I want to be that kind of leader.

Excellent, clear, inspiring post.

Thanks…

January 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Chip
 7 

An excellent list to which I would add:

Through intentional interaction translates vision into specific objectives for self and team.

Provides and encourages frequent and ongoing dialog evaluating progress towards these objectives.

Recognizes objectives accomplished and efforts which fall short.

Removes barriers to objectives or communicates temporary or permanent revision of objectives.

Gotta know where we are going, how we plan to get there, are we there yet, and what now.

Good stuff Shane!

January 25th, 2009 at 5:39 am
dollyd93
 8 

Shane,
I totally agree. Have you ever been on the receiving end of a book/blog learned leader? Yikes! They just lack the authenticity, and their quotes from famous leaders just do not inspire.

Having said this, it is amazing as a parent to see this process in your children. I have three sons, and 2 of the 3 have that leadership gene. They have that magnetic personality, wisdom beyond their years, delight in life, and intuition that is God-given.

The real trick is teaching the follower that it is ok to be a follower and to find good leaders to follow. We have planted the seed of God as the first leader to always follow, so I would say that is the first step, but by his very nature he is gullible. I hope that my intuition will rub off on him, so that he makes good choices of who to follow. For right now, he has his parents and God to lead-not all of us are this lucky.

January 29th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Jamie
 9 

This post is still messing me up. I don’t know if it’s a self evaluation thing or a low self image thing, but I can’t keep from asking myself, “am I just in a leadership position? Or am I a gifted leader?”

It’s not hard at all to blend in when surrounded by so many gifted leaders. I can definitely talk the (Perry Noble) talk. I’ve sat in hundreds of leadership meetings with Perry. I guess the answer will come when I am squeezed. Soon.

Thanks again Shane for your honesty and transparency allowing the Holy Spirit to rip my comfort apart.

February 11th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Lee Fields
 10 

Great post! I think your right, its a gift. Can be learned, but to be great you have to the God Given inuition

March 15th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Patrick Turner
 11 

You got some great thoughts on Leadership.

As Christians we are required to lead. Lead people to the cross. Our gifts are what tell us in what way.

My thoughts as far as whether “leadership can be learned” or just sharpened. I would say it is possible to learn to lead. Those with a gift for it may do better at first, but those willing to do the work will have continual success. The primary difference between those with the gift and those without. Those with the leadership gift will might have a higher leadership potential.

Its my belief everyone is a leader in that they influence, and at some point they are responsible for something. as I understand those being the basic requirements.

Some of the important aspects of a leader I would say are…

Vision: as having an end state or a common direction or goal.
Serving: As a leader you serve the people you lead. You should also be able to understand their side of the issues.
Skills: No matter what you are good at you should focus on what you do best and try to surround yourself with people who may be skilled in ways you fall short in. Which relates to the next.
Teambuilding: An essential aspect. as this makes the group a cohesive unit. If you are poor in this aspect it may be difficult for you to influence people.

These some of my thoughts. please let me know if you have any comments at stric9design@yahoo.com

April 16th, 2009 at 6:11 am

3 Trackbacks/Pings

  1. H E L L O ? R I G H T O N !    Jan 23 2009 / 12am:

    [...] you are titled that way or do you want to be a leader because people want to follow you? Check out Shane’s post on leadership here for more [...]

  2. January Links « The Music of a DJ    Jan 27 2009 / 5pm:

    [...] Shane Duffey - What Leadership Demands [...]

  3. Leadership « On the blog    Apr 16 2009 / 11am:

    [...] to Shane Duffey’s blog.  My thoughts as far as whether “leadership can be learned” or just sharpened. I would [...]

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