Are You a Great Leader?
You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase: everything rises and falls on leadership. According to Google, that phrase was coined by John Maxwell. I believe it; he certainly is the leadership guru.
As a pastor, you are unquestionably a leader. You have been called by God and by a congregation to lead a church. The question is, “What kind of leader will you be?”
Below is a top ten list of qualities found in great pastor leaders. How many of these traits describe you?
- Great leaders are humble. The best leaders I know understand their limits. They know they didn’t get to their place of leadership without help. They do not think more highly of themselves than they ought (Rom. 12:3).
- Great leaders are readers. I’m sure you learned a lot in seminary, but that can’t be the last time you read a book. A pastor who isn’t a reader is like a car that never gets an oil change. Eventually, that old oil isn’t going to do the job anymore. Read and digest as much as you can.
- Great leaders share what they’ve learned. A really good leader looks for opportunities to help others grow in knowledge and leadership skills. They create other leaders in their sphere of influence. A pastor leader will almost always have a “Timothy” in their life.
- Great leaders learn from other leaders. A good pastor leader will not only have a Timothy in their life, but a Paul as well. I know of no great leader who thinks they have nothing left to learn on leadership.
- Great leaders elevate the lives of others. Pastor leaders not only encourage their congregants, but challenge them as well. Effective pastors ask questions like, “Is my congregation growing spiritually?” and “What can I do to challenge more growth among my members?”
- Great leaders know how to move at the right pace. Pastors are often guilty of chasing after God’s vision without taking the time to shepherd their congregants and carefully bring them along. A good pastor leader knows when to pause. Additionally, the wise pastor knows to make no major changes in their first year at a new church.
- Great leaders see problems before they become problems. A pastor leader acts quickly to keep a crack from becoming a chasm. They are bold enough to address the tough issues, but to do so with kindness and grace. They are wise enough to look ahead and see the longterm results of decisions.
- Great leaders are never satisfied with their current situation. A pastor leader never feels as if there is no more work to do. They always see areas where it can be better. If a pastor ever lacks the desire to make their church a better church, it’s probably time to retire.
- Great leaders take responsibility for their decisions. A pastor leader will own church decisions on hires, programs, changes in worship style, and initiatives. When criticized, a good leader will not passively shrug their shoulders or shift blame to a board or staff.
- Great leaders own their mistakes. All really good pastor leaders I know have made their fair share of blunders. To err is human; to own that mistake is a great leadership.
I know of no pastor leader who is hitting homers on all ten of these traits, but the great ones get most of them right, most of the time.
Kevin Mills
February 2024
