By Pastor Jon
What makes for a good leader?
Good question. “Where do you start,” you may be thinking?
Let me suggest, that is not a bad answer!
There are many positive character and applicational attributes one could compile to flesh-out a compelling picture. However, in this piece, I am not seeking an exhaustive list. I know. Rest easy. We could have been here for days. Now I only have to write this piece, and it will only mean hours; reading, that is. Obviously kidding.
Nevertheless, I do want to suggest a viable answer to this question, which is more about those things that separate the average from the very good, as many will lead, but fewer will do so with distinction.
And I would suggest the qualifier-in-the-above-title is one such example in too short-a-supply!
Still, this is not easy. What can make this journey more difficult is understanding what the terminology exactly requires. What does it mean to positively empower? This can seem like a question, requiring a number more, before you can begin-to-effectively-answer! But assuming you have some idea, how do you in a such a manner that people become positively released; where you are not man-managing, but still, taking your responsibility seriously, under God?
Maybe we will be here for days, at this rate!
Too often leadership can become a synonym for who is leading something; mostly ourselves when conceiving, which makes this about an activity that we complete, and not how this becomes realised through another person. As Lead Pastor of RELOVUTIONARY, I take this question and context seriously. Truly, this is less about these words, and more about the culture being modelled around.
I know as a militant-about-my-own-abilities younger person, it was native to think about leadership as evidence on the legitimacy of my stage, and what I could do. Now, as I have aged, I intentionally, and still-not-as-completely-as-required seek to provide increasing conditions where others can better use their gifts for the glory of God; in such a manner where the mission of God can become more realised through the whole Body of Christ. You likely know this in verse, but we really can’t do it, all by ourselves. After all, if we believe Scripture, the gifts are more complete in the corporate. And, as giftedly-good as we tend to think we are, we only have a place; it is not alone, and many more are required.
While Common Grace examples need to be handled with some care, I was reminded of this Empowering Leadership application reading words about All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen, from someone who has closely worked with the man over a long and successful haul, Grant Fox.
This is in the context of Hansen announcing his final year in the job, with the following, a portion of Fox’s encapsulation:
“What I think for the guy is he’s hugely about his team and his players. There’s a brutal honesty about how that environment operates, but there’s compassion at the same time which sounds a little bit of a contradiction but the two can go hand in hand.
“He’s got a very very sharp rugby brain, he’s got great people skills … in my view, what he’s done is he’s empowered the people around him.”
He’s hugely about his team and players. In other words, it’s not about him. People can easily get confused about this. It is not about a false humility. It is not hiding from the spotlight. But, as this is not about identity, larger goals are in play, and even more glorious proposals. And truly, when you are for someone; when you love them into doing what is best for another, you will speak-up, where required.
Honesty and compassion. Not one versus the other, but one working through the other. A both/and; not either/or. You could say, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), is reflective of this emphasis. In our Kiwi culture, we tend to be more silent about “constructive” criticism, or, there are a few who take pride in their brutal honesty. The grace-enabling genius is a silence on brutality, but an increasing resonance through Gospel-led empathy.
Often, this may be described as, emotional intelligence, into popular culture, which does not exactly work with how we reference this area of our person, yet, this amounts to better getting another person, in such a way where you’re enabled to appropriately interact through their cross-culture, like they know that you get them. It is not an evasion of truth, but more like an elaboration, through a wider convergence of biblical horizons.
One of my goals in RELOVUTIONARY is to effectively release people into an increasingly intentional missional orbit; in light of their gifts, abilities, and opportunities; in such a manner where they are empowered to take the lead, but not without loving care where responsibility is also personally required unto God. That can be the killer-cross-over, which is why communication is so vitally important, and why intentional relationships are required.
As you can see in our, Core Distinctives, two of the high five demand this type of leadership to effectively release the extent of desired impact:
<+> City Vision: Compassionately Seeking Cultural and Social Renewal for the Whole Community
<+> A Church that Plants Churches: The Great Commission as More Than a Slogan
If RELOVUTIONARY is to get anywhere near close, it will be as a result of a growing number of people committed, and then released, into using their God-given gifts for the Mission of God, and the true Flourishing of humanity.
We seek this increase and release.
It could be with you?!
For the Fame of His Name
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Quote: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12177819.