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- Are You Doing Too Much?
One of the biggest mistakes we make as leaders is doing too much.
For one glaringly obvious reason...but most miss it...
When YOU do something it means someone else ISN'T doing it.
Did you catch that?
When you do it they don't.
Which means...
They're not getting experience
Not getting confidence
Not being tested
And more...
Just look at Ephesians 4.
The five-fold are there to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry.
But the model most leaders use is exactly opposite.
It's based on doing everything and others helping.
When it should be others doing and you as the leader helping.
Coaching.
Encouraging.
Equipping.
Correcting.
Directing.
You get it.
That's leadership.
Do less.
Delegate more.
Train, equip, and release your people to do the work of the ministry.
And only do what you can't delegate.
Here's how it works in the real world:
I pastor a church of 800-1000 people.
It's growing.
People are getting saved regularly.
Cool right?
But you'd probably be shocked at how little I do.
Seriously.
I preach on Sundays.
I lead a one hour staff meeting once a week.
Work from the home mostly.
I rarely meet with people and if I do it's almost always key leaders for quick connections.
No counseling unless it's an elder or key leader in the church.
Here's what I do:
Vision
Strategy
Culture
Pastor my direct team
Be the best Jesus follower, husband, and father I can be.
Create content, systems, and processes that help our church do the work of the ministry.
I'm intentionally unavailable.
Ponder that.
Now, I realize this may make me seem like the WORST pastor ever but understand this...
I'm not lazy.
Quite the opposite.
I've actually struggled with being a workaholic!
In both ministry and business...
And I'm not some grumpy curmudgeon who hates people...
I love people!
I used to do more counseling, meetings, etc.
Problem is...
The more I did the less others did.
And I became the hero.
But now I'm much more interested in being a hero maker.
Equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry
So I've had to learn these practices.
And they've changed my life and leadership for the better.
If you're interested in learning more about how to apply the 80/20 principle in your church and leadership I've included a coaching session I did on it in the 20 Ways to Grow Your Church Bundle.
Off the dance floor,
Pastor Jake