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What kind of person becomes a gifted church revitalizer? What can the Church learn about revitalization leadership by pinpointing what makes gifted turnaround pastors tick?
Using The Birkman Method™ we identified seven significant differences between revitalization and maintenance pastors. Five relate to behavior; two concern occupational interests. Since five of the seven key characteristics of revitalization leadership are behavioral, we have been able to discern the best practices of church revitalization leadership.
This means that all pastors can become more effective as revitalization leaders by employing the leadership behaviors that are proven to correspond to church revitalization.
About The Birkman Method™
The Birkman Method is a rigorous personality profiling instrument that uses “self” and “most people” perceptions to gather important behavioral and motivational insights into human personality. Its component scales are based on and supported by many different theories of social perception and personality. It is unique in that it corrects for socially desirable answers, detecting our natural tendency to present ourselves in a favorable light.
Here are four distinctive leadership behaviors of church revitalization pastors.
Assertive
“Blessed are the direct: they shall give the church direction.”
Assertiveness is the first significant difference between revitalization and maintenance leadership revealed in our Birkman research. It insures others know what you are thinking and why, and understand what must be done as a result. Revitalizers speak up. They express their opinions openly and freely. They state their expectations clearly. When they speak, others understand and know what needs to be done. This is not the same as extroversion; introverts are often verbally assertive.
Maintainers suggest rather than tell; they "share thoughts" rather than state opinions. Theirs is an easygoing demeanor that prefers leadership by consensus. Their non-confrontational inclination leads them to “pull their punches” when the church needs clear, directive leadership. As a result, everyone is allowed to hold their own beliefs rather than unifying around one common belief.
Those who wish to revitalize their churches must learn to be comfortable exercising authority, giving direction, and setting expectations. When disagreement arises, they may feel discomfort, but they don’t retreat. They engage. They persuade. They are committed to getting issues out in the open.
Independent
“Blessed are the independent: they shall break out of the status quo.”
Another difference is how revitalizers and maintainers see themselves. Revitalizers see themselves as being different from the rest of the crowd. Maintainers see themselves as being like most other people.
These attitudes express themselves in distinctive leadership behaviors. Revitalizers are innovative, independent thinkers; they plot their own course in the search for newer and better ways to accomplish the ministry. Maintainers tend to prefer convention over new ways of thinking and behaving.
Deliberate
“Blessed are the reflective: they shall not be reactive.”
Revitalizers have different approaches to making decisions than maintainers. They take more time making decisions, seek counsel and weigh options. They meditate and pray. They stare out the window, listening for the Spirit’s guidance. In the meantime, they are comfortable with ambiguity. Even when pressed for a decision, they would rather take time to make the best decision, based on the facts at hand, than make a quick decision just to clear the decks or to put everyone else at ease.
Maintainers make decisions more quickly. This often flows from a need to reduce ambiguity; uncertainty may be disquieting for them. They want complex issues reduced to their simplest form. They appreciate quick decisions. Ironically, the maintenance pastor’s rapid decisions create the impression of strong, decisive leadership. This fits the stereotypical character of a strong, confident leader who knows what needs to be done and doesn’t hesitate. But the more effective change agent may seem to be hesitant, worried about wrong choices, and unwilling to take a risk.
Flexible
“Blessed are the flexible: they shall not be bent out of shape.”
The Birkman evaluates how we respond to interruptions, intrusions, and new opportunities. This is another crucial distinction between revitalization and maintenance leadership.
Maintenance pastors prefer to focus on one thing at a time. They resist distractions or changing focus. When they are zeroed in on a task, they are not easily distracted. They stick with it until it is finished. When they are interrupted, they feel like they are not getting anything done. They like task lists. They prefer an office environment that minimizes interruptions. Their typical day is a “rinse and repeat” cycle of churning through the to do list. If you don’t understand how change energizes and motivates them, revitalization pastors may appear impulsive, incapable of sticking with anything to completion.
A savvy observer realizes that shifting attention quickly, attending to interruptions, and juggling tasks is evidence that they are bringing their A game. Boring, time-intensive tasks sap their energy, leading them to become restless and unfocused.
Revitalizers typically don't work from task lists. They know what needs to be accomplished and prefer to organize their work day around emerging priorities.
Hope for all pastors
There’s no need to mimic someone else to revitalize your church. You can be an introvert or an extrovert; shy and retiring, or gregarious; a persuader or a planner; reflective or active. Revitalization leadership hinges on a few key behaviors that all pastors can master!
 | Bud Brown is an experienced ministry leader, writer and educator. He is co-founder of Turnaround Pastors and co-author of the ground-breaking Pastor Unique: Becoming A Turnaround Leader. He brings special expertise to change leadership in the local church, mentoring pastors to become revitalization leaders, training churches how to find and recruit the best talent, and training leadership teams how to achieve their shared goals. Learn More » |
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