With that said, I am in a position of leadership and as I seek to lead with grace and wisdom, I've learned some important things and I've made my share of observations of things that work and ones that don't.
There is one particular observation I've made that I want to address here, and would definitely invite your response and input as well. Two heads are usually better than one, and perhaps we can all learn something and become better leaders (and followers) together.
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| Hanging on when we should be letting go? |
The observation is this: some leaders seem to be able to handle letting go of followers with little or no grievances. And some, not so much. I have my own opinions about why some struggle with this more than others, but I'm wondering if there's more to it than what I see. I think this happens in the secular world, too, but since I'm mostly in the Church/ministry world, this is the perspective I bring to the discussion.
Since Church 4 Chicks began in the fall of 2008, we've had our share of folks who have come and gone. Heck, we've had volunteers come and go and even board members! It's hard sometimes not to take their leaving personally. Someone shared with me, just this past Sunday, that we all (those of us who call ourselves Christians) have the same Good Shepherd, and that we can trust His voice when He chooses to move one of us to a different field. Perhaps He wants us to be fed differently than we have before, or with different "sheep" than we've been associating with for a while. I so appreciated hearing this and visualizing our Good Shepherd guiding each of His sheep to the very pasture each one belongs in each season of their lives.
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| http://dymphnaswell.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-good-shepherd-sunday.html |
As leaders, how are we to respond when someone chooses to leave our organization? How would you want to be treated if God moved YOU from your current organization?
Wow! Good question. As I have been thinking about this I see in my life when someone decides to leave my flesh rears its ugly head and makes it all about me. But, God uses that as a "teachable moment" and gently reminds me that it is all about HIM. It reminds me that HE must increase and I must decrease.
ReplyDeleteNow, if I have to leave I would hope that the friendships would continue. We are here on this earth to be LIGHT. Sometimes God moves the light where it is needed. He knows what is best. I guess we just need to get out of the way, let God work, and be so thankful that He chooses to use us.
I love you, Shelley. I'm so glad I can be a part of Church4Chicks this time. I've missed it so much.
Sheryl
The feeling is definitely mutual, dear Sheryl! Thank you for your comment. I'm with you--if we are faithful to listen to our Shepherd's voice and go where He tells us to go, we can also be humble enough to believe that perhaps He can handle this same type of relationship with others as well, and offer them the freedom to listen to Him for themselves.
ReplyDeleteA leader is a servant, equipping and empowering his/her followers. A leader (speaking of men, not Jesus) is not an owner.
ReplyDeleteIf we are true leaders our sole purpose is to see the growth and successes in those who choose to follow us. And may I be so bold as to say that, if they do not move forward, they are not growing. Just as Jesus calls us to grow up in him and go out and compel them to come in, we should want great things for our followers, and want them to come into their own.
We are called to pray blessings and success over all, our leaders and our followers, and not be distracted from what we know our own calling is. Just as children shouldn't stay children, but should grow up to parent their own, so should our followers grow into their own.
I'm not saying that they should always leave us, but that they have their own minds and should be encouraged to use them and also grow spiritually. Hopefully this will cause some to seemingly leave their leaders and go out to make their own way as leaders.
Shelley, I read an awesome book once entitled Shepherding Horses by Kent Humphreys. It is a great encouragement for leaders in the church that are shepherding other leaders.
GREAT comment, Beth! Thank you for posting this. I couldn't agree with you more. I've learned that, for whatever reason a "follower" leaves, it is not for me to judge their motives or reasons. One of the greatest joys is watching people grow into their own and follow the Shepherd's voice for themselves--taking risks and moving forward.
ReplyDeleteI can't say, though, that I don't grieve when I see someone 'leave' because they stopped growing. But even in those times, I'm learning to trust that the Shepherd sees them still and will always be with them. It frees my heart to focus on my calling and pursue it with passion.
Thanks for the book recommendation--would love to read it!