Leadership Task - Shepherding

The word pastor means shepherd.  Many times I went to my team members and told them I was their pastor.  Freaky looks, but lots of wonder and then amazement as they saw a different kind of leadership in their lives.

Shepherding can only be successful if implemented with the right attitude - not begrudgingly, feeling compelled to do so, but voluntarily and willingly.

Shepherding should be one of the most desirable and gratifying areas of your leadership responsibilities.

Check out this link - first part of a thesis paper on shepherding leadership -http://gradworks.umi.com/34/25/3425741.html

Leadership Task - Equipping

What does an equipped person look like -- one who has been made perfect for the job or who has completely adjusted to it.

I think there is an element missing in the equipping process that I would like to mention - and that is equipping your team to understand and work with their team and to be able to process teamwork.

This is one skill set that can be taught, but if it is modelled, would carry a lot more weight.  What you do not want to do is teach to say one thing, and then do another - that does not make a future leader and you are equipping someone on your team to work dysfunctional in wherever they are placed.

As you teach and model, step by step, you will teach to the point that your team will perform the task themselves and eventually, as they become skilled, they can begin to equip others too

Related articles

• consider the ANT - part 2 (ryandayministries.com)

The Right to be Heard

This is not what you think - I am trying to say that you need to earn the right to be heard - and to do that you need to come into your team and respect each member.

Do not think that any member of the leadership team is "old" or "ignorant" or "retrogressive."

There might be more wisdom there, especially in practical matters. Attach yourself to them.  Ask them questions.  Respect their judgement.  In most cases you will prosper and mature greatly if you do. 

You may not be able to move ahead as fast as you want, but progress will come as you gain credibility and experience and as you begin to emulate more and more the gentleness of Jesus.

The members of your team are due respect

Jesus makes plain that He does not share His authority with anyone.  On the basis of that authority He gave His followers certain commands.

Just because you are a leader, does not mean you have unlimited authority to dictate to your team.  In reality, since your team is the final possessor of authority, you only have as much authority as is delegated by your team.

Since we are all considered priests, saints and ministers of the gospel, as the Bible makes clear, leaders need to understand that they are given to their team for only one purpose: to enhance the ministry of these "ministers."

Christians do not know who they really are.  When they are finally convinced of the fact that they are priests and ministers, they will begin to act the part.

If a leader is wise, they will recognize and respect the wisdom that rests in the members of their team as it acts together, and will demonstrate their respect by taking the decisions of the team to be wise counsel.  These leaders should continually treat their team members with the respect due to them as priests and ministers because God, not them, has designated them as such.

Someone put this video montage together showing a bit of a sport analogy on this topic, including the back ground music and lyrics which suggest some of the things I have mentioned here.  I am not necessarily one of those who believe that sport analogies are best comparatives to leadership issues but this was pretty interesting.


http://youtu.be/RkzWGoCd8rU

Shepherding and Leading

The relationship a leader enjoys with their people is unique, and apart from that they have with their family, probably is the most rewarding.

A leader leads and shepherds.  Although we may lead, we are still accountable. There is a dynamic balance required in the relationship,.  When the balance is maintained, leadership generally progresses well.

 Here are some links that will build on this thoughts with different elements.

http://www.stmatthewanglican.org/ANNOUNCEMENTS/20110515/Sermon.pdf

http://2tim22.com/files/tim/m2m/Leader_Development_files/2%20-%20Leading%20as%20a%20Shepherd%20+%20Article.pdf

http://mintools.com/shepherding-ministry-2.htm

Reconciling Relationships

Not in the sense of peace verses conflict but in the sense of time - spent at work verses at home - a conflict that probably never will end.

Nolan Harmon identifies that "there are time when an emergency at home demands every thought of the father/husband, there are times when an emergency at the office becomes so imperative that it takes precedence over all home duties.  This will be admitted.  What is not so easily remembered, however, is that a leader's relationship to their family is as high and as sacred as that to their work."  So sometimes work gets precedence and sometimes family.

What we have is an interlocking of responsibilities.

Nolan Harmon calls for this - "the better the father, the better the leader; the better the guide for the others, the better the guide for one's own children."

Study Life

"Full of God's Word"

In order to give God's Word away to others and see it make a difference in others, we must be studying, interpreting, applying God's Word to our world that we engage with.  To know that Word, means we have to spend time with in it.  We also need to spend time with people, getting to know them and their needs, so that are application of the Word will 'scratch them where they itch."

Here are some thoughts that my prove helpful -

To be authoritative, we need to be aware of the whole scope of Scripture.  Have a plan toread through the entire Bible every year, divided properly into daily segments so that it is not so time consuming - reading it rapidly is okay as it provides a rather big picture scenario or stopping to meditate on some jewel you found in the midst of everything is okay too.

Spend considerable amount of time studying - even consider apply what you are learning as if you would be invited to speak somewhere on the topic you have just found interesting.  If you do at least one outline a week, following closely to what is happening around you in the world you live, you may make small presentations that prove effective in the lives of your listeners - but give the Holy Spirit something to work with.

If you were to obtain a university degree in any subject there would be at least a minimum of 15 hours of study required outside the classroom in order for you to succeed.  Is that the right time to put towards studying? Why not?

Each expressed learning point needs to make a call for some type of decision - hopefully to yourself first and then when sharing, to others.  Make the call for a decsion then you know how your studying is making a differenct in your life and not just in your head.

Personal LIfe

"Life In a Fishbowl"

Excessive demands make it often easy for us to become absorbed in tasks and ignore those important personal needs.

Those needs include the following:

•Sleep – morning person or night owl get the required amount of sleep that we have you refreshed for the next day http://www.thoughts.com/shemelts/the-power-of-sleep

•Nutrition – watch the sugar and the caffeine - some of you know the 3 o'clock wall is an indication of a sugar addiction and just try and not have a coffee for a day and see how many trucks have hit you...

•Recreation – do it regularly and make sure your phone is no where near you - whether sports, gardening, hiking, reading, fishing...

•One day a week off – unplug the phone - doing something that completely has nothing to do with your work environment

•Find a mentor/friend/confidant - sounds easy? Try it...

•Relationship with Jesus - Many people take this part for granted – especially if the leader has ‘pastoral’ tendencies. A close walk with God does not come automatically. In fact, this is the hardest work of all and the part of a leaders life that requires the greatest amount of personal discipline.

The Call

Questions to ask yourself to determine if in fact you have been "called."
1.  Do you like people enough to give yourself in service to them unselfishly?
2.  Are you comfortable with people, or are you easily threatened by them?
3.  Are you able to confront people lovingly?
4.  Are you an organizer, a motivator, a person who can inspire people to undertake ever greater and more exiting tasks?
5.  Do you have the capability of being an interesting person, or do people yawn at the very thought of your appearance?
6.  Are you able to communicate?  Can you organize your thoughts in logical fashion and present them in such a way that you will provoke attention?
7.  Do you have the physical stamina?  Will you be able to hold up under long hours and during times of stress?
8.  Do you have administrative and leadership abilities?
9.  Are you comfortable with children, the aged, as well as those that are between?
10.  Are you a disciplined person?  Are you able to manage  your time wisely?
11. Are you able to project realistic expectations upon people and thus solicit their support and encouragement?
12.  Are you sufficiently trained for the challenge of leadership?
13.  If you are married, is your spouse sympathetic to your role and is she possibly willing to enter into a partnership with you in the ministry to which you have been called?