I was surprised when my squad leaders approached me about being a team leader. I had just spent the first seven months of my Race learning to be a team member, leading others without undermining a direct authority. This was new for me, as most of my roles in the last six or seven years of my life had me in the “top” authority position. I was finally getting used to not having responsibilities, and not needing all the details.
I was worried that I would start leading in my own selfish way, instead of leading from God’s identity in me. I actually thought about not accepting exclusively on that thought. I’m so glad I did give in to that fear. I have learned so much!
So, for those TLs coming into new roles and learning to lead as you follow God, and for those leaders in other roles who need some encouragement in their role, read this carefully. These are just a few things God, straight for him and through others, has taught me about being a Godly leader.
1) Dying to your own needs and championing others above yourself, when those others do not particularly like you or your leadership, is something we are called to do. Even if we don’t want to preference others because we don’t them, God has put us in leadership positions, and we need to follow God’s example in leadership. He washed the feet of and died for his followers, even the one who betrayed him and turned him in to be killed. Just saying.
2) It’s easy to lead when you’re strong, well fed, and rested. When you’re weak is when it counts more, because more than likely the whole team is struggling, and consciously or unconsciously, they are looking for you to lead them into wanting to be there that day.
3) In leading a World Race team, you are leading other adults. They should be responsible; you should not have to babysit them. I learned quickly that my team wanted to be trusted with actual times for ministry and events, instead of me giving them an earlier time, so that when they were late, we would still be on time with schedule. I learned that they needed to be trusted. That way the two issues were completely separate, and should be treated as such, the second issue being one of respecting others’ time, the first being trusted as adults.
4) Always, always, always, whether you “feel” like it or not, have forgiveness. People will say things you don’t want to hear. Jesus said things people didn’t want to hear, and they said things that torn up his heart. He still forgave them even to the point of dying for them, while they accused him and didn’t believe his words.
5) Be honest and vulnerable with your team. While you might have a leadership title, you are also a teammate, and in the good and bad you need just as much support from your individual teammates as they need from you as their teammate.
6) Have humility, at all times (which is way easier said than done). One does not understand leadership humility until one slips up as a leader, and someone calls you out in front of the rest of the team. You have a choice to either take the correction with grace and change your actions, or you can harden your attitude and push back. A Godly leader will take the correction, pray about it, and do whatever they feel is necessary to be sure their actions are corrected. Be the Godly leader.
7) it is perfectly okay to answer a questions with “I don’t know”, and just as okay to have to correct your answers because you were wrong. This was, and still is, hard for me. I always want to be sure I know the answers, both for myself and for the team. When I have to say “I don’t know”, it’s a trial for me to say it. I also hate being told that I got something wrong, or I should correct something I have done. That’s so hard!!
8) Someone will usually be offended at any corrective statement or feedback, even if it is a blanket statement for the entire squad, not for any specific person. Some people believe that when things like that are said out loud to a group, the statements are directed at them. That is not always the case, and you should not take it personally if they feel offended. It’s usually they are convicted of something they did.
9) Squad months are hard, for the entire squad, not just the leadership. It also can be hard on hosts. Having that many people living in one place, cook and cleaning and washing clothes and washing themselves and trying to be in extremely close community. It gets hectic, and is honestly daunting. Keep your head up as a leader and encourage your team and squad. While the month may be hard, everyone will grow through it.
10) Situations don’t always need to be (nor should/can be) fixed by the leader. In a lot of situations, it’s actually better to let the two parties figure out their own differences, and only push them if they are not even bothering to try to handle it on their own.
11) Conflict resolution can be as simple as prayer and listening to someone.
12) Listening to each person and working to understand them as individuals helps a great deal in making decisions when it is needed immediately without the ability to have them give input.
14) Loving people as they need looks so very different from person to person. Get that even partially right and show the intention and willingness to grow and understand, and you can truly inspire your team to follow you. But LOVE GENUINELY!! People will think you are fake otherwise, and think you are manipulating them, not trusting and loving ten. This includes your hosts and ministry contacts, and is a rule of life, not just leadership.
15) Last thing, and this is really important: You are only as strong as God makes you in each moment and decision. You can try all day long through your own strength, but as long as you try without him, that will not make any progress.
Hope these pointers help your decision to be a team leader if God has placed you in that position! It is one of the hardest, most challenging, yet easiest, and most rewarding leadership positions I have ever held! God will teach you, and grow you to be the leader he needs you to be.
#GodIsInControl #redefiningdisciple
#THIRD
