Three Stages of Leadership
Three Stages of Leadership — Part One
Have you ever been challenged in leadership? Does it seem as if you are trying to move forward but you keep having setbacks?
I want to share some things that will get you unstuck from bad places in your past. There are things you could do that will launch you forward into some great places God already has planned for you.
Remember, in life God has predestined where he would have us go and things he will have to do. I believe one the greatest challenges we experience is either following leadership or understanding them.
God designed a plan for us to follow in leadership, but it would not be an easy plan. The plan will be effective, but everything that is effective is not easy. As we get into this, I want to approach it from a “follow-ship” perspective.
In the “follow-ship,” your greatest level of opportunity for growth is where and how you view leadership. In our “follow-ship,” there are three dimensions in which we see “Leadership”. Scripture reference is Exodus 17: 1-16.
God designed a plan for us to follow in leadership, but it would not be an easy plan. The plan will be effective, but everything that is effective is not easy. As we get into this, I want to approach it from a “follow-ship” perspective. In the “follow-ship,” your greatest level of opportunity for growth is where and how you view leadership. In our “follow-ship,” there are three dimensions in which we see “Leadership.” Scripture reference is Exodus 17: 1-16.
Stage 1 — Moses was with the people, and The People With Moses (First Dimension Of Leadership). In this first stage, the leader starts using a fishing rod, then he will come into the place of taking hold of the net and start a network of leaders with the (Followers).
There is that time the leader must be with the people. There must come that time that the sheep can catch the scent of the shepherd. This period is called the family/nurturing stage. This is the time the leader is leading and the people are following. There are people at this stage that have never been fathered or pastored effectively.
If the leader stays in the stage of being with the people too long it will cause you much trouble.
People that chide or murmur are people that missed the family stage. This is the bonding stage when all of the people become one.
Remember, Jesus walked with the people thirty years feeling what the people felt.
There are some indicators that will tell you when it is time to transition from the family mode.
- The attitude change — we should maintain a good attitude toward the leader as God’s Anointed.
- Arguing and bickering—we should have the Spirit of your leader. When people stop treating the leader like a leader (Getting an Eye To Eye Encounter with the Leader) moves people towards dishonoring them and not recognizing the leader as God’s Man or woman.
- They start treating the leader like a brother (Becoming Too Familiar with God’s man/woman as the Leader). You will begin to blame your leader for everything; feeling like it’s okay to charge the Leader with their cause instead of assuming responsibility.
Taking the Church to the Next Level:
When God gets ready to take the church to the next level the Leader must change his or her position from being with the people to being in front of the people.
This principle holds true to those that are heads of other positions as well. People start backing out and leaving Churches when their assignment is almost over. Those who do leave the churches seem not to know it is a call to move up…not away.
In addition, people leaving should not discourage the visionary or the leaders. Your leader should not give their mantle to people who do not have staying power or persistence. Conflict is an indication of turning points and change.
Your style of leadership has to change! Your methods of leadership have to change!
A Pastor or visionary cannot cater at this point to those behind but rather to those with remaining with them. If your Pastor doesn’t handle the whining correctly, the people will keep them in or pull the pastor/visionary back to the first dimension of Ministry; Hebrews 2:1.
Later this week, we will talk to you about the other two points. Join me on Facebook Live for this conversation in detail every weekday at 1:00 P.M.