If you are a leader you already know you can’t lead well without sharing leadership with those you lead. Call it delegation, engagement or empowerment but learn to do it as quickly as possible. Simply put, when a church refuses to engage new leaders, that church has already begun to die and ultimately the leaders it has will burnout or leave.
Even though we see clear evidence of Jesus empowering His disciples and we have read a half a dozen books by John Maxwell telling us to do it, most of us still struggle to do so. Can we just be honest? It is often hard to hand significant leadership responsibility and authority over to leaders who may do the work differently than we would or worse yet might fail.
Leaders who share leadership well:
We all face days when our confidence is shaken. And we limit our own effectiveness by not managing pride and fear as it relates to the performance of others. It is ok if others get credit for a job well done. Leaders who are confident in their role are able to authentically elevate others.
The people at the top of the organization have the most power to make the people around them feel safe. When people grow and develop under your leadership it is a compliment to your heart and skills as a leader. Delegating may be the most unglamorous part of leadership but it holds the most power.
Good leaders make people feel they’re at the very heart of what is important. They make people see how they make a difference and are key to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel valuable and that gives their work meaning.
To hand off responsibility and authority well:
Team members who balk at giving updates are actually sending warning signals about danger ahead. Empowerment isn’t permission to do whatever you want. Good leaders stay involved and supportive without meddling unnecessarily by providing short-term goals that give daily direction and celebrating progress through small wins.
We actually see this pattern in the gospel. In Matthew 4:18 Jesus invites four fishermen to walk with Him and to learn to fish for men. This simple invitation became the reorientation of their lives that positioned them to accept the ultimate empowerment of Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8.
What are the enemies of empowerment in your life?
What have you learned about the challenges and success of delegating?
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