As leaders we are supposed to have the answers. Right? But the world is ever-changing and this leaves us feeling off-balance. Uncertain.

It takes courage and skill to step out and move into the unknown. Over the next few weeks, we would like to revisit a series of blogs we shared a few years ago on adaptive leadership. The content is just as relevant and needed now as it was then. Over the next few weeks we’ll look more in-depth at each of the 5 things needed to lead in an ever-changing world. See our previous posts Lead with a Humble Spirit,  Adaptive Leaders Dig Deep, and Adaptive Leaders Listen Well.

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Leaders go first.

If congregations are going to pilot their way into the new world we find ourselves in, then leaders must go first.

Here’s your reality:

Leaders start leading when no one else is following.

Leaders start by acting on conviction.

Leaders pursue clarity about their own sense of purpose and calling. (They don’t carelessly trample on relationships.)

Leaders don’t allow themselves to be dragged along by congregational opinion. They don’t allow themselves to conform convictions to the affirmations of members.

The good news is that all of this can start with us! You don’t have to wait for a new budget, new building, new board, new plan, new pipe organ, new program, new this, new that, etc.

The bad news is that all of this can start with us! No ducking responsibility just because we don’t have a new budget, new building, new board, new plan, new pipe organ, new program, new everything.

You see, if our churches are going to navigate forward and take on their greatest challenges, then the leader needs to go first.

It’s hard to imagine the church as a system that if…

The leader changes…

…and the leader maintains good relationships within the congregation…

…then change will result.

That’s it! Not flashy. Not fancy. Usually not fast. But effective? Yes.

Two big hurdles!

• Way too many leaders don’t know how to build and maintain quality relationships.
• Way too many leaders have never done the hard work of gaining clarity for themselves and stop making excuses.

This type of leadership can be risky and lonely.

My guess is that you’re not quite ready to fully buy the “leaders go first” path!

So, here’s the plan I’d like you to follow first:

• Resolve with your leaders to keep doing what you’ve been doing and try harder.
• Don’t waste time asking the difficult questions or confronting conflicting values. Amazon a book. Go to a conference. Launch the program that promises to solve everything!

Yes. Do that first…unless you already have!

Leaders go first!

Some of what’s right about your congregation today is the result of a leader(s) (maybe you!) five or ten or twenty years ago making the investment in what’s bearing fruit today. If you take the “Leader Goes First” posture it’s likely that the greatest fruitfulness will come when you might be long forgotten. And that would have been a worthy investment!

(In the old world) pastors weren’t missionaries and churches weren’t missions…pastors were preachers and worship leaders and teachers and counselors…mostly chaplains in a Christendom world…. And if churches (today) are going to become missionary churches then pastors and leaders must become missionary leaders.

Tod Bolsinger

If you’d like to pursue this sometimes risky and lonely adventure with a guide and in community with other leaders like yourself:

• Check out Leadership Essentials launching this fall in Detroit and next spring in Chicago.
• If you’re a senior pastor or executive leader of an organization, check out Senior Leader. The Adaptive Leaders immersion takes place this fall in Nashville with guest speaker Tod Bolsinger.

Raechel can tell you more about both Learning Communities.

When I came to my first church it was a mess. Of course, I was a mess too. Funny thing when I started to change, it changed, too.

A PLI pastor

by Rev. Dr. Jock Ficken