Leaders can do great things…but only when they lead a team. One person is severely limited in the impact they can make, and will probably burn out. You must learn to empower, encourage, train and delegate to be a good leader.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Character, wisdom, understanding culture, they are all limited if you can’t lead others. Leading a team is the culmination of your growth as a leader, and often your most challenging task. Too many people call themselves leaders, but can’t manage others well. We must intentionally learn the art of leading others so we make the impact God has called us to make.

13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening? ” 15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”

17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’ father-in-law said to him. 18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone. 19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him. 20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. 21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. 23 If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves. (Exod 18:13-26, HCSB)

 

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

 

Step #1 – Effective Delegation

This week, I encourage you to practice both the importance and the skills needed to delegate effectively. The audio files below will help you with this, but the first and most important thing you must know is this: When you give someone a task, they won’t do it as well as you do. That’s ok. If they can do it 80% as well as you do—give it away! Remember that you were not as good at it long ago either. They need room to grow. They may also do it differently than you. That’s ok too, as long as the end result is still the same.

Leaders fail because they fail to empower others with tasks…or they micromanage them, rather than letting them practice, making mistakes along the way.

We don’t delegate tasks, because that creates followers, instead we delegate authority, because that creates leaders. ~ Craig Groschel

 

Step #2: Leaders act as Group Leaders to their Teams:

Ministry leaders are friends to the people they lead. They serve like small group leaders. That’s because people want to know you care about them as a person, not just about their abilities as a worker. Relationships are the currency that pays followers. An employer does not have to be as personal because they give their people paychecks.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. ~ John Maxwell

This is why most churches are tiny. They are limited to the leader’s key relationships. No leader, no matter how good, can lead 1,000 people. They can only lead a team or two. To lead a larger organization, we must lead others, who lead others. Our team must have teams of their own.

In order to reach tens of thousands of people, we must raise up leaders to lead them. That’s why good churches are not ONLY about a service and proclaiming the gospel from stage, they are about raising up and sending out leaders too. Both are essential. Both lead to a healthy church.

Always touch the heart before you ask for a hand. ~ John Maxwell

 

Audio:

 

 

The BIG goal for every leader – impact through many leaders

What could oneChurch look like with more leaders? Let’s look at a church a few years ahead of us with more leaders: Lifechurch.tv

Read their 2013 annual report here.

Bill Hybels

 

Homework:

Which of the 21 Qualities of a Leader you have read about do you have most? Which one do you lack most?

What tasks can you delegate now, and who could you delegate them to? Try it this week, and see how it goes.

Who do you lead now?

  • In what ways are you leading them well, and in what ways are you leading them poorly?
  • Do you know how to pray for them about issues that are currently in their lives?

How can you help the people you lead gain a vision to lead others too?

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