When developing a leadership team you may want to consider as many options as you can. You may prefer to keep a tight control on your audience, but that may stifle growth or their contributions. Here are a selection of key areas, each with a handful of related issues. As you work through each set, prioritise, change or discard each issue. You may want to invite your wider audience to add further issues and concerns. Each '§' links to a Bible Gateway page or to another page on this website to help and clarify each area. (links to follow 23/2/2009) What foundations have been laid? Our vision has the buy-in of all affected parties What fruit do you want to see from your leadership? Our mission is achieved more quickly than planned time-scales, with less effort and casualties List the skills and attributes you need in your leaders; change these where necessary! The key qualities in my leaders are love, joy and peace How do you want your leaders to make it happen? Adapt or improve these: Our preferred style is to enable others rather than command or direct operations What level of integrity do you consider vital? Help your group to declare its importance Integrity, honesty and humility are not always necessary qualities in leadership (care on this one! What does God want?) What authority is essential to achieve your plans and priorities? Select, change or adapt these: I want my group/team/church to do what I say, not necessarily what I do Which issues will ensure the continued growth of your operation? We anoint peoples' gifts, talents and skills, rather than simply making use of the talents and skills Discussion pointers Your discussions may affect your view of your Mission Statement; make sure you have a firm foundation before trying to build your superstructure - building on shifting sand is not a wise man's game. Identify the qualities of those (inside or outside your group) who enable others to do better than themselves, and encourage all to recognise and honour that contribution to the life of your group, church or organisation. Follow group golden rules: record everyone's contribution; let the group control the maximum input time from each member; include good points and those requiring attention; be generous in praise and encouragement; agree realistic responses and actions to points raised, and keep on track, including wild ideas! The Conductor There's more to be gained by examining the qualities of the orchestra and its conductor. Some suggest that a good leader can so inspire the team so as to do himself out of a job. While there is much truth here, the gifted and highly skilled conductor will draw even more out of the band. How do your best leaders anoint the talent in your group, orchestra, choir, band or church? Value the good fruit and the flavour will last for more than just a season. Quotes on leadership * Do you love to lead, or do you lead as a means to love? * If a leader rules with the heart then the manager rules with the head. * The leader inspires; the manager insists. * A leader encourages while the manager assesses. * The leader sustains while the manager drains the resources It has been said that the Producer uses the best qualities of both a manager and a leader; by their fruit you'll know them! Exercises in Leadership St Alban's Vineyard Examine the aims of St Alban's Vineyard which exists to gather all who are searching for God, to grow in God's love and to give it away. What does your your group need to do before it can say that it is happy to give it all away? Apply this to your Mission Statement, Aims and Objectives, and create a sheet of priorities to bring your group up to speed. List the qualities required, the ideal personnel (try global figures first - eg Barrack Obama, George W Bush, Nicholas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, Nelson Mandela - to help your group recognise the qualities) and include a realistic timeline to achieve your first goals. Five Marks of Mission CTBI have declared five marks of mission in the following (abridged) statement. You may wish to perform a group exercise to determine the overall vision, specific aims and objectives of those who adhere to this worthy statement. Work out how your leadership would help the team or congregation to own the vision individually, as well as together. The five marks of mission have been recorded as to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom, teach and baptise - or immerse and nurture; respond in love to human need; transform unjust structures in society and safeguard the integrity of creation. Your leadership model will create leaders who make sure that each element of this statement is achieved in the most loving and fruitful way. |
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