Why Leadership Development Isn’t Happening In Your Church

I don’t know about you but leadership development is one of THE critical issues in our church right now.  Over the next 5-10 years, most of our key senior leaders will likely retire or reduce their level of involvement.  Who will step into those roles and are those people ready?

In addition, our ministry is growing quickly.  We need effective leaders in all kinds of places.  We have open positions all over the place and we are having a very difficult time finding the right people.  Maybe you can relate.

Or, maybe you’re just insanely busy because you’re the only one who can do much of the work.  You need people to share the load.

Whatever scenario you find yourself in, leadership development is a crucial issue.  And what do I mean by leadership development?  In my mind, leadership development is equipping people for greater effectiveness in their current or next role.

But here’s the problem.  In most places, it’s just not happening—not to the level that is necessary.  Why not?  Well, here are 3 typical excuses.

“WE’RE TOO BUSY”

How am I supposed to develop other people when I can’t even get my current work done?!? Personally, I find myself thinking this on a regular basis.  Here’s the problem with this line of thinking.  If you follow this pattern to its inevitable conclusion, you arrive at a dead end.  You will never develop people.  Eventually, you will burn out or you will leave your current role and the church or organization will suffer without you.

The truth is you will always feel “too busy.”  The issue isn’t time but rather, focusing on doing the right things.  It’s the realization that leadership development simply MUST happen.  So, what do we do?

Stop doing something less important so that you can focus on what is truly important.

It’s probably that simple…and difficult.

So, if you’re going to start developing the people around you, what less important task are you going to abandon?

“THERE ISN’T MONEY”

The phrase “leadership development” just sounds expensive, doesn’t it?

“Do I need a private jet for that?”

It sounds expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.  The truth is, the most effective leadership development that I’ve received in my career hasn’t been expensive in the slightest.  Why?  Because it was conversations.

Here’s what leadership development looks like at its core:

1. Identify people who need to grow in a specific skill.
2. Identify people who know how to do that skill.
3. Connect with person 1 with person 2.

The cost of leadership need not be more than the cost of a cup of coffee every week for a few months.

Side Note:  If you find yourself in a place where you want to be developed but aren’t receiving it, all you need to do is identify what skill you are lacking and a few people who possess that skill.  Next, ask them to meet with you for six weeks and share with you the secrets of their success.  Boom.  DIY Leadership Development.  Don’t wait for someone to development you.  Leaders go out and get what they need.

“WE DON’T KNOW HOW”

Sometimes, when I interact with leaders from churches that absolutely crush leadership development, I feel like a complete moron.  For example, any time I talk with someone from 12Stone Church in Atlanta, I’m pretty sure I know nothing about leadership.  They are just masters at raising up great leaders.

Anyway, I’m guessing you’ve found yourself feeling the same.  Here’s the thing:  There is a lot you probably don’t know about leadership development.  But, there are some things you do know.  You have skills.  There is stuff you know how to do really well.

If you wait until you feel like you know everything you need to know about leadership development, you’ll never actually do it.  Instead, start developing the people around you in what you do know.  Get the ball rolling!

• If you’re a great preacher, who are you sharing your knowledge with?
• If you’re a great manager, who are you sharing your skills with?
• If you’re a killer administrator, who are you sharing the secret sauce with?

Now, it’s probably true that much of the leadership development that needs to happen in your church requires knowledge and expertise that you don’t possess.  What do you do here?

One thing we’ve done is look around our community and ask,

Who around here knows how to do this?

Chances are, there is someone in your community, or possibly even in your congregation, who has the skills you are looking for.  Great leaders usually enjoy developing people.  Consider asking these people to volunteer their time to mentor you or someone on your staff.  Or, pay them.  It will be worth it.

For most of us, leadership development just isn’t happening at the pace we really need, usually because we don’t feel like we have the time, money or knowledge required.  Turns out, these obstacles are relatively easy to overcome.  So, let’s get after it!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject.  I’m guessing some of you have experience to share on this topic.  Feel free to leave a comment below.