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A ministry is only as strong as its leaders. This was the first lesson I learned as the new hire Women’s Director of a rapidly growing church in California. As I tackled the job of building a thriving women’s ministry from the ground up, I learned a lot about team building and how to engage and strengthen leaders. Here are three tested strategies to strengthen your leaders right now:
1. Cast a clear vision.
Do our leaders know and understand our vision statement? Can they articulate it to others? A solid grasp of our ministry’s vision can go a long way in strengthening leaders. When we tell the story that led to the birth of our vision statement and describe the “Why” and “What” that fuels our vision, it enables our leaders to grasp it, embrace it, and want to share it with others. To further increase engagement, we can help them connect the dots by illustrating how their ministry can help accomplish the vision. Then we can pull the focus even tighter by helping them visualize the particular part they can play in it. The clearer the picture we project, the more our leaders will personally connect with our vision. Few things strengthen and mobilize a ministry team as much as the thought of being a part of a bigger picture that is poised for community and global impact.
2. Clarify ministry expectations.
Do our leaders know exactly what we expect from them? Few things weaken leaders and kill confidence as much as a lack of clarity about expectations. Spell out your expectations, both in person and in print if possible, providing a description of the ministry in which they are serving along with the roles and responsibilities that go with it. Avoid assuming a leader who has prior training and ministry skills will know what to do. No matter what skill set our leaders possess, providing practical support through clear direction and ministry-specific training, sets them up for success. A definitive starting point, specific parameters for their ministry arena, and a clear objective equips them with the tools needed to work with confidence and creativity.
3. Cultivate a personal connection.
Would our leaders say we are available when they need to sit down and talk? Sometimes all a struggling leader needs to bolster their service is the opportunity to hash things out with someone who understands the demands of their ministry. Whether they just need to vent over a ministry issue or celebrate a victory, being able to share candidly provides a valuable opportunity for leaders to clear the mental and emotional clutter. When we make time to connect in person with our leaders, it communicates value and can powerfully reboot their ministry passion and encourage deeper commitment to our teams.
Strengthening our leaders doesn’t have to be limited to intensive workshops and annual conferences. Sometimes all it takes is a few simple tweaks to our approach and priorities. In my experience, leaders equipped with a clear vision and expectations, and who feel seen and heard, will last longer, serve with joy, and build fruitful, impactful ministries.
Photo source: istock
Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.
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Ryan Sanders serves as the Director of Content for BiblicalLeadership.com. |
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