As I reflect on Easter Weekend at the Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago, I want to take a few moments to share what I’m learning as a leader.
I eat, drink, and sleep leadership and my leadership vision is seeing it work without me. God allowed me to see that happen Easter weekend. Since there are many moving pieces that make Mars Hill work, I won’t name names because I know I’ll leave someone out. Now that the dust has settled, I want to share the 4 proven ways to grow as a leader.
Be Confident – Confidence is the Engine That Jumpstarts Momentum
I tell our congregation, “Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” Our Worship & Fine Arts Ministry decided to begin our services with a play on the BIGGEST Sunday of the year. It was an absolute hit and the audience loved it. It takes confidence to take a risk and our team did it.
“Confidence in oneself is the cornerstone of successful leadership. Only those who believe in themselves have enough optimism to see the best in those around them. “Self-confidence breeds confidence in others,” according to noted author and pastor John Maxwell.
Pull Back – No Matter How Busy It Gets, You Need Time Alone to Think
I once heard someone say, “don’t mistake motion for progress.” Just because you’re moving doesn’t mean you’re going anywhere. I guess that’s why I don’t like treadmills. At Mars Hill, we don’t have a lot of programs, dinners, anniversaries, etc. Having a full calendar doesn’t allow for downtime to think, plan, and strategize.
John Maxwell tells us that “One of the reasons people do not grow as leaders is that they try to change their results without changing their thinking.” Our lives today are a result of our thinking yesterday, and our lives tomorrow will be determined by what we think today. If we desire to rise above our circumstances and to move up to another level in life, we need to carve out time alone to think.
Execute Now – Your Best Opportunities Are NOW
If you wait for conditions to be perfect, you’ll never make a move. During Easter Weekend, we did 2 things we’ve never done before:
- We launched our Online Campus and
- We added a Saturday service. At Mars Hill, the ongoing secret is that we launch everything in beta.
When an initiative is near 80% complete, we launch it. Our end users and members provide feedback and we make it better.
Do you remember missed opportunities waiting for conditions to be perfect? I know I do. We have a tough time forgetting opportunities that have slipped through our fingers. We continually bring up what might have been or what should have been as if by replaying it enough we could somehow change the outcome. However, the more we relive the past, the further we drift from today’s opportunities.
What has happened in the past cannot be undone; our strength lies in the present. We live in the present; we work in the present. So let’s wipe the slate clean and look at what is in front of us.
Add Value – Never Waste an Opportunity to Add Value to Others
When Travis Edwards, our Director of Worship & Fine Arts presented the radical idea of incorporating a full-scaled play during worship on Easter, my eyes widened with anticipation. I’m thinking “this will be great because it’s something we’ve never done before.” Immediately I said, “let’s take a risk and go for it.” I believe my support of his idea showed him how much I value him as a leader.
Many people consider the greatest good of leadership to be the accomplishment of audacious vision: building a great church building, winning a championship, etc. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with achieving one’s career goals, I have found that the richest, most rewarding aspect of leadership always involves relationships.
Trophies eventually collect dust and sooner or later we must vacate positions of influence. What truly lasts is the legacy we etch into the lives around us. “What brings the greatest joy and satisfaction is enriching the lives of those we love by adding value to them,” fittingly remarks John Maxwell.
As a growing leader, I’m always looking for ways to learn and grow. What’s the greatest leadership or life lessons you’ve learned?
