LEADERSHIP

 

     During these last few months I have been reading a lot of leadership books for work, for church and on my own. My own meaning "by choice!" These leadership books are written by "leadership experts" such as John Maxwell and Mark Miller. The book I am reading "by choice" is written by a pastor, Craig Groeschel who pastors Life Church. His church is located in Oklahoma and has multiple campuses around the U.S. I have always been intrigued by leadership and various leadership styles. In my many years on this earth I have seen many different styles. I've seen the dictator leader, the passive leader, the "Hands on" leader, The O.C.D. leader and the unorganized leader. The loud leader and the quiet leader. I've seen leaders who want to see you fail so they can point out your mistakes and I've seen the leader who micromanages you to the point that you want to pull your hair out. I will have to say with every boss, pastor, manager and leader I have worked with, I have learned something from them. Some good things and some not so good things. What I have learned is very simple. I've learned I can't copy their style. Their leadership style is their leadership style. I had to experiment a lot in my youth to see what my style was.

     My very first time as a leader was my total accident, so I thought. As a sophomore in bible college in New Jersey I joined a new puppet ministry that was just formed and expected to just be a puppeteer that semester. I would go to rehearsals, travel with the team on outreaches, get my credit for the semester and move on. Not so fast! As it turned out God had other plans. I was asked to run rehearsals. I was asked to drive the van and take the team on outreaches all over New Jersey. I was asked to lead the ministry without really being asked! WHAT? WAIT! I didn't sign up for that! Just let me get my college credit. I am willing to serve but lead this? No thank you. God didn't call me to work with kids! I'm a missionary!! Kids are annoying!! God made a way for me to become the leader of this ministry. Our team members looked to me to "run things." Trust me when I say I knew nothing about puppet ministry, nothing about kids ministry and I was never ever asked to be a leader. I guess I did okay because I was asked to lead the ministry again the next semester! That was my beginning in leadership training. 3 years later I started a puppet ministry at my church. 4 years later I became the Children's Pastor. God knows what He's doing!

     I am not one of those people who believe everyone is a leader. I don't think we are all called to lead. Using a baseball analogy, not everyone can play catcher or pitch. Not everyone can be the first baseman or the center fielder. We all need to play our position. In reading all of these books I have noticed two things. Leadership takes hard work and a lot of effort. It is not easy. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly many times. There are many people who have agreed with leadership decisions I have made and there are some who have disagreed profusely at leadership decisions I have made. I have seasons in my life in my leadership where I feel like I won the Super Bowl and other seasons where I feel like the Detroit Lions (with my apologies to all Lions fans!) I have learned recently that I have a lot to learn. My best route is to do my best, learn from my mistakes and be comfortable with myself and who I am as a leader. I am not a loudmouthed leader who screams and yells. The kids I work with often ask me if I ever yell. No, not much. I am a quiet leader but I do like things organized and I do like to run a tight ship with a well oiled machine intact. People want a well balanced leader. Not someone who intimidates them. Most of all they want a leader who leads but who also cares. I want to work on this and I will continue to develop my leadership skills every day!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!!