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On Leadership: 3 Nuggets, Pt. 1
Posted on March 7th, 2008 in Encouragement, General Leadership, On Leadership, Worship Leadership by Fred McKinnon
Hey Everyone -
Leadership is critical when we’re in positions of influence and ministry. Whether it’s my role as the Worship Director of St. Simons Community Church, my role as the owner of my own businesses, or my role as a Christ-follower in the marketplace and in the public arenas of life … leadership is important.
One of the things I love about working @ SSCC is being part of a large staff with some incredible leadership. Pastor David Yarborough is only a couple of years older than I am … but he’s got a lot more grey. (haha). Seriously, just about anytime you hear someone introducing him, they always say something like “this man is wise far beyond his years”. That’s so true.
Over the last few days I’ve had the privilege of walking through some church-related issues w/ him and I’ve been blessed to just sit back and listen to wisdom and be built up in leadership. I couldn’t help but jot down a few notes on a legal pad as we just talked.
Let’s introduce them in a 3-part blog series and discuss in the comments section.
On Leadership:
1. People need to be heard. Listen.
A good leader will listen to those he or she is leading. Personally, I think that’s one of the big differences between a leader and a dictator. Personally again … I can’t help but confess it’s one of my greatest weaknesses. If Joy (my wife) were an online/blogger/reader … she’d comment with a hearty “amen” there. But, I’m becoming better in this area. I’m trying to become more intentional about listening. The people may not be saying the right things … but they still need to be heard. They need to know that THEIR OPINION MATTERS.
I also think good leadership creates an environment where listening is possible, but also creates boundaries … there are times when we need to sit back and listen to those we are leading. Then, there are times when those who are being led need to just trust their leadership, yield when necessary, and hold their questions for the appropriate time. Giving people the opportunity to “be heard” shouldn’t be a free-for-all …. so, leaders should be intentional on setting aside quality time to “listen”. Maybe a lunch 1-on-1 … or maybe a smaller group “forum” from key people who are involved with the ministry or business area you are leading … or even a simple phone call.
Evaluate yourself. Are you listening to those you lead? When was the last time you were intentional about creating a dedicated time, forum, or appointment to just allow those you are leading to “be heard”?
Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 … in the meantime, let’s discuss “Listening Leadership” now … add your comment below!
PS: as a blogger/leader, I want to “listen” to those of you who read this blog … so I have a specific question, and I’d love for you to include your answer in the comments of this blog. I’m releasing this “Part 1″ on Friday. How are your weekend reading patterns? Would you prefer to have Parts 2-3 starting on Monday of next week – or to go throughout the weekend? “I’m listening ….”
For the Kingdom,
Fred
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12 Responses to “On Leadership: 3 Nuggets, Pt. 1”
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I completely agree. I just conducted a meeting with my band and brought some thinking questions and let them just talk about different issues. We have to be really careful though not to let it turn into gripe session where everyone is beating you up for your leadership abilities.
I love it! I think every leader should go through a “listening 101″ class. And I really mean LISTENING. So often we truly intend to listen, and do so until the first comment or thought is voiced that we think is “wrong”. From that moment on many of us tend to “fake” listening when we actually can’t get past what they said that was “wrong”.
THAT isn’t listening. Listening is to truly give ourselves to the one speaking and taking in all that he/she is saying without making “final judgements” until all has been said. Many times the person may “qualify” or even correct what was said earlier.
The moment we stop listening, we are TRAINING that person that we don’t care about their feelings or opinions. Right or wrong, they have them. And it’s not about BEING right or wrong. It’s about loving them and caring enough to treat them with respect and honor regardless of what they say.
There will always be a time to speak correction or address wrong thoughts with a person who needs it. And the person who needs it will amost always be willing to receive from you if you first show them you care enough to simply listen.
We are to love Christ why? Because He first loved us. Yet we expect those who “follow” to listen to us too often when we, ourselves, are unskilled or unwilling to listen first.
Selah
I would rather see more on this sooner than later. Don’t wait a long time. I love it!
When I was in youth ministry I used to say to my adult leaders, “If you are talking more than the kids, you’re talking too much.”
Does that apply to music? “If you’re talking more than the band, you are talking too much?”
on blog weekend reading – I try to take a day off from RSSing but sometimes if I haven’t read a lot during the week then Saturday becomes catch up. So either way is good to go man.
Jordan at WorshipTrench had some sets of great questions to ask worship team folks to start some great discussion. With (I hope!) some wisdom I modified the questions to fit our culture and our challenges and we have had a great few months interacting with the questions and each other’s answers.
As far as reading patterns, it all goes to RSS so it doesn’t matter when you post.
Your point is something I like to do with the members of my time, which is to spend time with them away from the music. I like to spend some time just listening to what they want to do with their lives for God.
This is really good! I am a firm believer in what I think is a divine revelation I received from another minister several years ago. It concerns “Successful Relationships”, and the concept is a three-way one that states: “Successful Relationships” depend upon “Effective Communication” which depends upon an “Identification and Understanding of Roles”.
Your Mom and I, in counseling married couples through the “Prepare/Enrich” ministry stress that effective communication is a two-way street that involves both speaking and listening. We emphasize the importance of a concept we call “Active Listening”. It’s too much to explain here, but it’s absolutely amazing how “Active Listening” will open doors of intimacy between two people.
Re: frequency….Either way will work for me.
I didn’t really hear anything you just said i this post. I was too busy thinking about the next thing I was going to say…
Jeff
That is TOO FUNNY.
[...] is Part 2 of this series – see Part 1 for the story behind this series and the first [...]
[...] … you can catch the background behind this series and the first “nugget” in this post, and the 2nd nugget is discussed (or shall I say, “being discussed”) [...]