Adopting A Posture Of Learning

After 17 years of full time ministry one of the things I still get excited about is the continual pathway of learning that is expanding my heart and mind with new paradigms of thinking while stretching me with new experiences as I integrate what I learn into my leadership and ministry.

In my current unit of study I read a quote, in the context of language and cross-cultural witness, that aptly describes Christian discipleship:

"Christianity is so well demonstrated by those who take a learning posture." - Charles H. Kraft

A disciple is postured as a life-long learner

A disciple is submitted to the teaching of Holy Spirit

A disciple is committed to becoming like Jesus Christ

A disciple is determined to pursue the will of God

By adopting a posture of learning we engage in a journey of transformation and growth that not only changes us, but changes others when our learning becomes a shared experience.  I had a leader from my previous church once say to me mid semester, "We get the best of both worlds.  We get to learn from what you are studying without having to do all the reading!"  This was a real time affirmation that my posture of learning is about way more than earning a degree, but about making disciples and developing leaders.  In fact, my posture of learning is putting skin on my leadership platform - "to equip the people of God to do the work of the ministry to build up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12).

John Maxwell teaches why a posture of learning is so important, “Your leadership, if it is not continually growing, can be a lid to the potential of your people. Why? Because you teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are. You can’t give people what you do not have. If you want to increase the potential of your team, you need to keep growing yourself.”  

How much more is this true for making disciples and growing the church?!

Leadership Lament

There is a tension in my spirit as I write this post because I do not want to come across as self righteous or unfairly judgmental.  However, I am struggling to reconcile a form of leadership I witnessed this week with everything I know to be right and honourable about leaders.  The more I learn about empowering leadership, the deeper my discontentment grows with anything less!

It is not appropriate for me to discuss the circumstances of the observations I am referring to in this forum, but there are lessons to be learned and shared to perpetuate the sort of leadership that builds people up, not tears them down. The following are brief reflections on some fundamental leadership principles that I have seen violated, yet ought to be foundational to any leadership relationship or context.

Whenever there is a COMMUNICATION breakdown between two leaders it is usually related to unmet expectations from one or both parties.  Relational intelligence would suggest the moment you detect that expectations are not being met you would seek dialogue with the offending party to redefine those expectations.  I believe the earlier this is done, the risk of resentment creeping into the relationship is minimized and the likelihood of respect growing in the relationship is maximized. It is unproductive to avoid these conversations or to abdicate them because they are uncomfortable.

There is something inherent about CONFLICT that causes insecure leaders to avoid it or manifest it in a destructive manner.  Conflict in any working relationship is not only inevitable, but is essential to wrestling with the issues that matter to what and whom you are leading.  Rather than managing out or suppressing conflict, it needs to be encouraged and embraced in a healthy manner (read Embrace The Conflict for further discussion).  We need people on our teams who will disagree with us and we need to make it safe for them to do so if we are going to be effective and empowering leaders.

It is the responsibility of any leader at any level of an organisation to COACH the people on their team to lift the lid of their leadership to a higher level.  In the absence of intentional leadership development opportunities within a team, the team leader, in part, is accountable for the poor performance of team members.  We seem to have little problem applying this principle to a sporting club when the coach is sacked for the poor performance of the team, but paradoxically the reverse usually applies in the workplace.

John Maxwell often quotes, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you CARE."  Leaders who devalue the personal lives of those they lead while trying to uphold the interests of the organisation find themselves in a self-defeating cycle.  Nurturing people through personal challenges will evoke a loyalty and commitment to an organisation that cannot be bought.  Leaders who demonstrate genuine care and concern (not just give lip service), find a greater responsiveness when the need for correction of performance issues arises.

I find it indefensible that these basic leadership principles are not only violated, but justified, to maintain image, manage risk or mitigate problems.  It grieves me to see potential leaders discouraged and competent leaders disillusioned by a dis-empowering style of leadership.  Yet, it strengthens my resolve to "equip the people of God for the work of the ministry to build up the body of Christ."  

The level of discontentment I felt this week is not only a sober reminder of the dark side of leadership, but a summons to reflect the character of Christ and to continue to develop and grow as an empowering leader.

Empowering Leadership

There are those satisfying moments in leadership when simple feedback encourages you to continue to step out in faith and take a risk by equipping and empowering leaders "to do the work of the ministry to build up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12)

The other day I received a text message from an emerging leader in our church who has overcome significant personal and social fears, stepping way out of her comfort zone, to pursue her heart for mission and desire to develop as a leader.  A statement within her message said, "Thank you for having faith in us."  This affirmation resonated with me as only a week earlier my twelve year old daughter sent me a message saying, "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me."  

Empowering leaders hasn't come naturally to me as it has clashed with my perfectionist nature and desire to get things done in the most efficient way possible.  It has meant letting go of control, learning to value process and giving people permission to make mistakes.  I still need to resist the temptation to say, "leave it with me I'll deal with it" and remind myself to say, "let's talk about how you might go about dealing with that situation."  While I may see clearly where we are and where we want to be and have a strategy in my head about how best to get there, I am not really empowering leaders unless I am prepared to engage them in the process.  

Empowering leadership has become a stated value in the Church and other organisations, but it only ever becomes a real value when it is integrated into the ethos of leadership.  This becomes a reality when we are prepared to step out in faith and take a risk in giving real-time authority to emerging leaders.  Craig Groeshel pushes this point by saying, "You do not just delegate tasks to the next generation or you will just create followers. You delegate authority because then you create leaders."  

Is there a risk in empowering leaders?  Absolutely!  Is there a cost in empowering leaders?  Yes, but there is a greater cost not to or to just giving lip service to empowering leadership.  When we exercise the biblical mandate to "equip the people of God for the work of the ministry to build up the body of Christ," we unleash the full compliment of the gifts of the Spirit and generate an "unstoppable force" (McManus) for the kingdom of God!  

“Good leaders give their power away. They look for good people, and they invest in them to the point where they can be released and empowered to perform.” (John C. Maxwell)

Leadership 12-8

Leadership 12:8 is an exciting Leadership Development Program for local Corps leaders, providing access to quality training resources from Scripture and successful international leaders from the church and marketplace.

Facilitated in a local setting, this program offers a learning environment where universal leadership principles and skills can be learnt and applied within your specific ministry context.

The ‘Introduction to Leadership’ is the first course of the Leadership Development Program and will be facilitated in two Modules, each comprising of four 2 hour sessions.

Module 1 will teach you basic leadership principles & skills, provide you with an understanding of the character of a leader and will help you discover and develop your leadership potential.

Module 2 will provide you with insight into the importance of developing a team of leaders, and teach you how to evaluate, equip and empower potential leaders.

Each module, facilitated by Major Robert Evans, is based upon John Maxwell's teaching curriculum from his best selling books entitled ‘Developing The Leader Within You’ and 'Developing the Leaders Around You'.  His teaching will provide you with practical and personal application of principles to inspire you how to develop the vision, value, influence and motivation required of successful leaders.

Let us each be faithful to Paul’s call in Romans 12:8 to “Lead with all diligence” as we fulfil God’s vision for the local church.

Contact Major Robert Evans at EphesiansFour12@gmail.com about how to participate in Leadership 12-8

Leadership Platform

While studying my Diploma of Business (Frontline Management) a few years ago, we were encouraged to develop a "Leadership Platform" as a reference point for what people can expect from our leadership.  This was a helpful exercise to clarify my role as a leader and to provide myself with a form of accountability to that role.  

As a leader there are so many demands and expectations from others that can very easily create an unfocused and unproductive reality for a leader.  This is especially true for my reality as a Corps Officer in The Salvation Army where I have been trained to be a 'general practitioner' with a variety of responsibilities in church ministry and community mission.  If I am not careful, I can find my role being defined by the expectations of others, rather than the fulfilment of my calling and commission.

Early in my current appointment I was confronted with a new paradigm of leadership that caused me to look at my role as a Corps Officer beyond a traditional "parish priest" minister to a "senior pastor" leader.  The difference being, that as a leader I am called not to do the work of the ministry but to equip others to do the work of the ministry to build up the body of Christ.  Ephesians 4:12 became a mantle for my new understanding of leadership and the measure by which I now evaluate my effectiveness.  This has empowered me to make focused decisions on what my role is and isn't and to effectively raise up others to become functional members of the body of Christ.

The "Leadership Platform" I developed out of this new paradigm has given me and those I lead a leadership compass to ensure that "I am the equipper, not the doer" (Sue Mallory, The Equipping Church) to empower others to lead.

Mission Statement

“To equip God’s people for the work of the ministry to build up the body of Christ”  (Ephesians 4:12)

Leadership Platform

"TO EQUIP"                   

I will be an equipping leader by…

• Creating a learning environment where the growth & development of ‘God’s people’ is a priority
• Providing resources & opportunities to ‘God’s people for the work of the ministry’ 
• Encouraging initiative & innovation by ‘God’s people’

"GOD’S PEOPLE"           

I will be an empowering leader by…

• Recognising ‘God’s people’ as being responsible ‘for the work of the ministry’ 
• Recruiting ‘God’s people’ to engage in ‘the work of the ministry’ 
• Releasing ‘God’s people’ to discover and utilise their spiritual gifts

"WORK OF THE MINISTRY"

I will support the ‘work of the ministry’ by…

• Casting a God-honouring vision to give clarity to ‘the work of the ministry’ 
• Connecting every person and ministry to the vision 
• Celebrating as often as possible the fulfilment of the vision

"BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST"

I will ‘build up the body of Christ’ by…

• Promoting a culture of ‘unity in the faith’ 
• Discipling a lifestyle of ‘maturity in Christ’ 
• Maintaining a focus on a ‘vision of eternity’