Increase the caliber of your team members and you increase the fruitfulness of your organization. That is a little twist on a quote from Mark Miller, leader of training and leadership development for Chick-fil-A.
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Most leadership within the church comes from — within the church. Too often in the church we settle for the first person who will say yes. I do believe we want the “right” person, and we hope and pray that the first person we ask will be “The right person.” I have written and will write about placing the right person in all roles of leadership within the church. But for this post, I want to give some thoughts on increasing the caliber of leaders in your church/organization.
1. Caring Engagement — If you want people to put forth their best, show them that you care for them personally and their fruitfulness in the position. Not just a one-time thing when recruiting. Caring engagement is an ongoing aspect of leadership. Show them you care.
One of the best ways to show you truly care is to engage on a regular basis, not only about their role, but about other aspects of life. Engage in conversation, maybe attend their child’s ball game. Show concern for their trials and sufferings as well as their victories and successes at home and church.
2. Provision — Provide everything possible for a fruitful ministry in each person’s leadership role. Instead of giving them a title and turning them loose to figure out what to do provide the resources and training to have a fruitful ministry. This advances the entire organization.
3. Empower — Too often we give a position or title while using constraints for fruitful accomplishment. W When you give someone a position and title allow them to have control in that ministry; allow flexibility to be the most fruitful leader. While there must be boundaries set, without freedom of empowerment to accomplish the task, fruitfulness will be lacking and not necessarily on the part of the new leader. Build an empowering structure within your church/organization.
4. Provide proper equipping — There is not a position in the corporate world where you had your orientation training and never had to do any other training. Yet, many times in the church we recruit for training and thank someone for saying yes, but never give any further training. In the corporate world this would not be acceptable, there is always some type of training. All those jobs deal with the temporal, we deal with the eternal. How much more important should ongoing training be in the church. Be certain you are providing opportunities for growth for every leader in your organization. Research and encourage each leader to research training opportunities outside the church related to his/her particular role.
5. Follow-up — Do not micro-manage, empower. Regular, consistent follow up is critical for the fruitfulness of each ministry and the church/organization. Regular consistent follow up is checking in, showing that you care. It also gives you a sense of where the ministry is going, difficulties that might be developing. Follow up will also give you victory stories to share throughout the church, encouraging other leaders as well.
Increase the caliber of your leaders and you increase the fruitfulness of your organization.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by George Yates.
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