Great leaders, and those of us aspiring to be, all do certain things that are worth reflecting on when it comes to leading a parish. Here are 5, in no particular order.
- They Simplify the Complex
Great leaders stick with a problem or idea long enough, and engage it deeply enough, to clear away the complexity and reduce it to its simplest form. That doesn’t mean they dumb it down. Rather, it means they make the concept accessible. And because it becomes accessible, more people can get on board and follow. Before we present a homily or any kind of presentation we always ask: “what do we want them to know, what do we want them to do?” And if we can’t answer those questions in two simple sentences, we know we have more work to do.
- They Clarify the Confusing
A great leader or pastor is going to be all about gathering information, oftentimes confusing information, and bringing clarity to it, at least eventually. I know I am at my best, and most effective on our leadership team, when I am encouraging different points of view, in order to allow clarity to emerge.
- They Refuse to Make Excuses
Ever notice that the best leaders rarely make excuses?
In fact, the leaders who make the most progress, who go the furthest the fastest, make the fewest excuses. And the leaders who make the most excuses make the least progress. Great leaders don’t have time for excuses.
- They Think Abundance
A scarcity mindset will kill your organization or church over the long haul. Certainly there are seasons for restraint and every organization needs a strict fiscal regulator (ours is named Brandon). That’s just good management. But if all you do is think small, you’ll stay small (and you probably should stay small). If you think it’s not possible, it won’t be. Great leaders have great vision for their organization, great goals for themselves, great incentives and abundant encouragement for their team members.
- They Think Through Priorities
Great leaders have great priorities. But, they are also continually assessing and reassessing those priorities. They discipline themselves and their organization, they direct their resources and their energy, and they allocate their time and their money to making their goals a reality.
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