Honoring Leadership Pt. 1
Leadership is such a tricky thing. Everyone aspires for more but very few have the resolve to lead through hard situations, difficult circumstances or when there is no right answer. Being a leader is convenient when praise or accolades are involved. Being a leader is not a sought after role when the tough call needs to be made.
The first lead pastor I served under was an amazing human being and cared deeply about his staff. He said something to me within the first year of my ministry at that church that has stuck with me. I asked him this, “What can I do to help you as you lead?” He said this, "you can help my leadership by being the best possible leader for teenagers, their families and the adult volunteers.”
That was profound to me at the time. What he was asking wasn’t sugar coated or a simple task, but it was honest. It was the biggest thing that I could do to ease the leadership burden and load that he was already carrying.
How can you help the leaders you serve under? How can you honor them with your leadership?
You are in the role you are in at this moment because they believe in you. In light of that, how can you make their leadership an easier load to bare?
Be A Team Player
You lead in your context but there are always other things happening that you can play a role in. Being a team player means you are focused on the entire organization and not just your area. You honor leadership when you care about what they care about.
Make The Ministry You Oversee The Best It Possibly Can Be
Make the ministry that you lead incredible. When you do that, your leader doesn’t have to put out fires, answer questions about whats going on or feel like they have to micro manage you. Communicate well, Recruit well, walk alongside parents well, sit and listen well and most of all reflect Jesus well.
Remember You Represent More than Yourself
You’re a leader who represents more than just yourself and your family. You are a representative of Jesus first and foremost. How you lead impacts how others see faith lived out in action. This is the most important thing to remember as you lead.
You’re a leader who represents the leader you serve under. How you lead reflects their leadership as well. As you lead, keep that in mind.
Prop your leader up, encourage them, speak of them often, affirm their leadership to others and to them and go out and lead in an incredible way. That’s the best way you can honor leadership.
