Are you a problem-solver?

Richard Blackaby July 28, 2019

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When you view leaders as problem-solvers, you gain a new perspective on the world around you. If there were no problems, leaders would be largely unnecessary. Leaders don’t merely hold positions or talk about problems. They fix things. 

Have you known professional sports teams that were chronically bad? (I’m currently cheering for one.) A coach arrives promising to turn things around. A year or two later, that coach is gone and a different one is making the same promises. 

I have known churches that saw a steady stream of pastors leave discouraged and declaring nothing could change the dysfunctional congregation. Then a new pastor was installed, and within a few months a fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit blew through the congregation. 

I know businesses that chronically underachieved. Then a new manager was hired, and everything changed. The manager finally addressed issues that undercut morale and profitability for years, confronted troublesome employees, and sent the elephants in the room to the nearest zoo. The previous leaders were often aware of the problems, but they were too timid to tackle them.

Currently in North America, 70 percent of churches are plateaued or declining. Why? I believe this trend is the result of ineffective leadership. Church leaders refused to address problems and now attendance is in steep decline. They didn’t call out sinful attitudes, carnal church members or ineffective ministries and now their church is in a tailspin. 

I talk with pastors frequently. They could all tell me about problems in their church. But only a fraction of those pastors is solving those problems. Sometimes pastors would rather move to another location and hope there are fewer problems there. 

Problem-solving requires a higher level of leadership skills. Leaders must grow personally to overcome challenges.

Sadly, when leaders attempt to make necessary changes, people often criticize and resist them. It takes tough skin and a bucketload of grace to endure bitter opposition from the very people you are trying to help. But that’s leadership at its core.

Let me be clear. Leadership is not complaining about problems. It isn’t identifying problems. It isn’t merely developing a plan to address the problems. Dare I say this, it isn’t even praying about the problems (though praying is important).

It is ultimately solving and overcoming the problems. I know some lovely souls who are great at praying for their church, but horrific at administering it. Leaders must do both! 

If your church, business, political office or non-profit has the same problems when you leave that it had when you arrived, you may have held court, made speeches, conducted meetings and built power points, but you didn’t lead effectively. Leaders solve problems.

Photo source: istock 

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Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More »

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