Leader, look behind you

Mark MacDonald Sept. 21, 2021

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Let's say you set out on a hike and you're in the front. You start down the path, wondering what's around the corner. You break trail, you pull limbs back, and you discover what's behind the brush.

You're having fun. You love leading the way.

You notice the wildlife and then you see something that makes you shiver.

You turn to the person in the group behind you and whisper something. And there's no answer.

You glance over your shoulder and realize no one's there.

If you're leading a group and no one is following, you're simply out for a walk.

This same thing can happen when you're leading in an organization. When you look behind and see no one following, one or more of these things may be true:

• You're not a leader. Everyone doesn't have "it." A leader has charisma, the ability to have people follow. The guts to lead. And it has to be a perfect blend of those.
• You need to slow down. Sometimes a leader travels too quickly. They blaze the trail too far out. Slow down and help the process sink into those around you. Share vision. Then take a step. Check to see if people are following. If not, share it better and try again.
• You need to engage others. Leaders need to be interactive with their followers. Find out what they want and what you can give them. The more you engage, the more they'll follow. Keyword: Listen!

Ultimately, not everyone is a leader. It's not a bad thing—in fact, real leaders need great followers with vision. Who are you?

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Mark MacDonald is a communication pastor, speaker, consultant, bestselling author, and church branding strategist for BeKnownforSomething.com empowering thousands of pastors and churches to become known for something relevant (a communication thread) throughout their ministries, on their church websites and social media. His church branding book, Be Known for Something, is available at BeKnownBook.com. Learn More »

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