6 Hats of a Leader
Jack of All Trades, But Also a Master of Some
1. Leaders Are Vision Castors
What is [insert ministry name]?
Your answer to that question will determine your success. Is your answer dry and lifeless, or does it compel the listener to join? Does it pull on the strings of their heart?
Leaders are vision castors. That begins at the moment of invitation.
At the core of every person’s inner being is the desire for purpose, community, and God. Is your small group a place for people to experience those? How are you casting vision for it?
What is small group? Small group is more than a Bible study; it’s more than a meeting. It’s a place of becoming. It’s a group of men or women on mission to better themselves, to know God, and to make Him known.
When we cast vision well, it doesn’t matter what religion people come from. They will be compelled to join because there is no other community like it.
Cast vision early and often. Take a moment at the beginning and end of every meeting to lay the vision before the group. Don’t let the vision fade from sight.
Lead with vision, and people will follow.
2. Leaders are Moment Makers
Take a moment to think about the defining moments of your life.
The interesting thing about core memories is that many rise from ordinary circumstances. They’re not attached to anything significant.
“Defining moments shape our lives, but we don’t have to wait for them to happen. We can be the authors of them.” (The Power of Moments; Chip Heath, Dan Heath)
If you want to make your ministry memorable and impactful, be a moment maker.
- Create moments of elevation that rise above the monotony and causal relationships of everyday life.
- Create moments of insight that help people to discover new things about themselves, the world, and God.
- Create moments of pride by empowering people, building a unique group culture, and accomplishing things together.
- Create moments of connection that will forge lifelong friendships.
Don’t just do things together. Do unique things together. Be intentional. The difference between an ordinary moment and an extraordinary one is 15%. Sow with 15% more effort and intentionality, and you will reap a harvest one hundredfold.
Take advantage of every opportunity. Don’t wait for the moments to happen.
Be a moment-maker.
3. Leaders are Relationship Builders
Every small group begins as a group of strangers. Your goal is to turn that group of strangers into lifelong friends. That’s a tall task. It will require a miracle and much prayer and sacrifice on your part, but by the grace of God, new brothers and sisters will be born.
At the start, the small group functions as a wheel, meaning that members are only connected to the center. The leaders know everyone and do everything. People come because they like the leaders, but our goal is to grow from a wheel to a web.
In a spider web, all the webs lead to the center, but they are also connected to one another. Real relationships are formed. People no longer come because of the leaders; they come for each other.
As the leader, your primary goal is to facilitate the building of godly friendships. Create depth by being real. Create moments of connection. Cast vision for the mission, and real comradery will form.
They won’t remember everything you studied, but if they leave the ministry with a new brother or sister, they will be blessed for many years to come.
Leaders are relationship builders.
4. Leaders are Learners
As higher education has become more accessible, it has also become devalued. It has become a means to an end. We study so we can get a good job. For many, education is nothing more than an expensive piece of paper and a resume booster.
Our natural hunger to learn has been replaced by syllabi. If it’s not on the exam, what’s the point?
As leaders, we must resist this modern view and become lifelong learners.
3 Qualities of a Lifelong Learner
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7; ESV).
- Fear of the Lord: We cannot trust our own judgment. We cannot trust the wisdom of the world. We must live in reverent submission to the Lord and His Word. We are a friend of God, but He is also our King and Creator. He welcomes questions, but His truth stands above all and must be obeyed.
- Curiosity: Each day, kids ask hundreds of questions — adults only a couple dozen. We must relearn to ask questions. Don’t settle for your current understanding. Real curiosity cannot be satisfied by a Google search. Google gives quick answers, but real learning takes time to wrestle with the questions. Nothing stifles learning more than quick, easy answers.
- Humility: The greatest hindrance to learning is pride. Pride prevents us from learning from one another, and it crushes our appetite to learn more.
Leaders are learners. Be a lifelong learner.
5. Leaders are Followers
Every leader was first a follower, and every leader remains a follower. You will never outgrow following others. As you’re leading, you’re also following. As you’re following, you’re also leading.
When you submit yourself to leadership, you lose some power and freedom, but you also become part of something much bigger than yourself and can accomplish far more.
Learning how to follow well also prepares you to be a good leader. Good followers make good leaders. “To give orders you must first know how to take them” (The Soldiers Guide, 1952).
Good followers (and thus good leaders) don’t focus on themselves. They focus on the collective mission. Ask yourself, “How can I help my leaders and co-workers succeed?”
“Clear the path for the people above you and you will eventually create a path for yourself” (Ryan Holiday).
Good followers are not mindless robots. If you mindlessly follow your leaders, you’re limiting your potential, your leaders’ potential, and the potential of the entire team. Paradoxically, being a good follower requires you to act like a leader.
You bring something unique to the table. Don’t suppress it. Don’t be passive. Share your ideas and concerns. Take initiative. Own everything you do. Only then can you truly contribute to the team.
6. Leaders Are Encouragers
If you’re called to lead, you’re called to encourage. No excuses.
Encouragement is the one thing you can never delegate. As the leader, you have the unique ability to be the greatest source of encouragement in someone’s life. However, the opposite is also true.
How will you wield your power?
Remember, even silence — a lack of encouragement — is often received critically and can be quite discouraging.
Everyone needs encouragement — even the most self-confident people and even when they’re doing well.
There is no such thing as too much encouragement.
