Leadership

Selfpaced and lead programme - for individuals and small groups

What is leadership?

Leadership within the context of the Church and its Mission to bring each person to God via faith in action

In the church, leadership is fundamentally about servant leadership, mirroring the example of Jesus Christ. It's not about power or control, but about equipping, empowering, and guiding people to live out their faith and participate in God's mission.

Here are key aspects of leadership in this context:

Spiritual Guidance and Disciple-Making: The primary role of church leaders is to help individuals grow in their relationship with God. This involves teaching the Gospel, fostering spiritual disciplines (prayer, scripture study), providing pastoral care, and helping people understand and apply biblical principles to their lives. The goal is to nurture "true followers of Jesus Christ."
Vision Casting and Mobilization: Leaders articulate a clear vision for the church's mission – to bring people to God. They inspire and motivate the congregation to actively engage in this mission, both within the church community and in the wider world. This means helping people see how their unique gifts and talents can be used for God's purposes.
Equipping for Ministry: Rather than doing all the ministry themselves, leaders are responsible for "equipping God's people for works of service" (Ephesians 4:11-12). This involves identifying, training, and empowering volunteers and members to serve in various capacities, recognizing their spiritual gifts, and providing the necessary resources and support.
Modeling Faith in Action: Leaders lead by example. Their own lives should demonstrate a deep faith, commitment to service, humility, integrity, and love. They are called to be "above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:2) and to live out the values they preach.
Fostering Community and Belonging: Effective church leadership creates a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment where people feel a sense of belonging and can grow together in faith. This includes facilitating fellowship, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that the church is a place where spiritual growth can thrive.
Strategic Oversight and Administration: While focused on spiritual matters, church leaders also have a responsibility for the practical management of the church, including financial stewardship, program development, and ensuring that operations align with the church's mission.

In essence, church leadership is about creating an environment where every member can actively participate in the church's mission of bringing others to God through their faith expressed in tangible actions.

Difference between the doer of charity and leader of an organization of volunteers who do charity

This is a crucial distinction, especially in a church context:

The Doer of Charity:

Focus: Primarily on the task or activity of charity itself. Their motivation is often direct compassion for those in need and a desire to help.
Scope: Individual actions. They might hand out food, visit the sick, or contribute financially. Their impact is often localized to their direct involvement.
Responsibility: To perform the charitable act well and with a willing heart. Their accountability is primarily to the recipient and, ultimately, to God for their service.
Example: Someone who regularly volunteers at a soup kitchen, prepares meals, or sorts donations.

The Leader of an Organization of Volunteers who do Charity:

Focus: On empowering, organizing, and sustaining the collective effort of others to do charity. Their motivation includes compassion for those in need, but also a strategic vision for how a group can make a greater impact.
Scope: Broader impact through multiplication. They leverage the efforts of many individuals to address larger needs or sustain long-term initiatives.
Responsibility:
- Vision and Direction: Setting the goals and direction for the charitable work.
- Recruitment and Mobilization: Attracting and engaging volunteers.
- Training and Equipping: Providing volunteers with the skills and resources they need.
- Coordination and Logistics: Managing schedules, resources, and ensuring smooth operation.
- Problem-Solving: Addressing challenges, conflicts, and ensuring the well-being of volunteers.
- Stewardship: Ensuring resources (time, money, talent) are used effectively and ethically.
- Accountability: To the organization's mission, the church, the beneficiaries, and the volunteers themselves.
Example: The ministry head who oversees the church's outreach program, recruits volunteers for various initiatives (e.g., food drives, visiting the elderly), provides training, and ensures the program runs smoothly.

Key Difference Summarized: The doer is focused on doing the work, while the leader is focused on enabling and multiplying the work through others. A leader facilitates and orchestrates, while a doer executes. Both are vital, but their roles and responsibilities differ significantly.

Is the leader also responsible for the human development and spiritual development of the volunteers?

Yes, within a church context, the leader of a volunteer organization is absolutely responsible for the human and spiritual development of their volunteers. This is a distinguishing characteristic of church leadership compared to secular volunteer organizations.

Here's why and what it entails:

Why?

Holistic Growth: The church's mission is about the holistic transformation of individuals. Service is not just an activity; it's a means of spiritual growth and discipleship. Leaders are called to nurture the whole person.
Faith in Action: Volunteers are serving as an expression of their faith. The leader helps them connect their service to their spiritual journey, seeing it as an act of worship and obedience to God.
Preventing Burnout and Promoting Sustainability: Investing in volunteers' development helps prevent burnout, increases their commitment, and fosters long-term engagement. When volunteers feel supported in their personal and spiritual growth, they are more likely to remain committed.
Equipping for Life: The skills and spiritual insights gained through volunteering under good leadership can extend beyond the specific ministry, enriching their entire lives and empowering them to be more effective Christians in all spheres.
Biblical Mandate: Ephesians 4:11-12 (mentioned earlier) speaks directly to leaders equipping the saints for the work of ministry. This "equipping" goes beyond just task-related skills to include spiritual maturity and character development.

What it entails (Examples):

Spiritual Development:
- Discipleship and Mentorship: Providing opportunities for prayer, Bible study, and theological reflection related to their service.
- Encouragement and Affirmation: Recognizing and affirming their spiritual gifts and how God is working through them.
- Pastoral Care: Being attentive to their spiritual well-being, offering guidance during challenges, and praying with them.
- Connecting Service to Faith: Helping them see how their actions are an expression of Christ's love and contribute to God's kingdom.
Human Development (Holistic Well-being):
- Skill Development: Providing training in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and specific skills relevant to their volunteer role.
- Feedback and Growth: Offering constructive feedback that helps them improve and grow in their abilities.
- Empowerment and Delegation: Trusting them with responsibility and allowing them to take ownership, fostering confidence and leadership potential.
- Support and Care: Being aware of their personal circumstances, offering empathy, and ensuring they don't become overwhelmed. This might include practical support or connecting them with other resources.
- Building Community: Fostering strong relationships among volunteers, creating a supportive team environment where they can learn from and encourage one another.
- Celebrating Successes: Acknowledging their efforts and celebrating achievements to boost morale and reinforce their value.

In summary, church leadership, particularly in volunteer organizations, carries the profound responsibility of not just accomplishing tasks, but of nurturing the individuals involved. This dual focus on mission and people is what makes church leadership distinct and vital to its purpose of bringing each person closer to God through "faith in action."

21 Laws of Leadership

1-Law of the Lid

Leadership ability is the LID that determines a person’s level of effectiveness as well as the organization’s effectiveness.

Discussion

What would you have to change in your daily schedule to focus on improving your leadership skills as much as you focus on improving your other skills?

How much time do you spend each week doing something to improve your leadership skills?

Reading a leadership book or article Minutes: ____
Taking a leadership class or viewing an online leadership lesson Minutes: ____
Talking to a a coach or learning partner about your leadership skills Minutes: ____
Other ?? _______________________________________________________________ Minutes: ____

2-Law of Influence

5 Myths about Leadership

1. Myth that leadership is the same as management. Leadership is about influencing people to follow. Management is about systems, processes, and tasks.

2. Myth that leadership is the same as innovation. At best, innovation has a short-term effect unless a person has influence with others.

3. Myth that knowledge is leadership because knowledge is power. There are many brilliant people who are not good leaders because they are unable to influence others.

4. Myth that a pioneer is always a leader. Being in front doesn’t mean you are a leader unless others intentionally follow you.

5. Myth that positional authority is leadership. People may comply with those who have authority but will only follow willingly if the person influences them.

Leading in a volunteer organization is a truer test because you have very little other than influence to get and keep people on board.

Discussion

Consider those around you. In what ways do they influence you?

In what ways are you influencing others?

What could you change to become a more effective influencer?

☐ Be a better listener

☐ Learn what interests and motivates each person

☐ _________________________________

3-Law of Process

The secret of your success is found in your daily agenda. Successful leaders are lifelong learners.

Discussion

What can you do to find out what you don’t know?

What can you do to begin or maintain the daily discipline of personal growth in leadership?

4-Law of Navigation

A leader sees more, sees further, and sees sooner than others do. The secret to the law of navigation is preparation. Before leaders take people on a journey, they go through a Navigation Process.

Count the Cost Luke 14:28

1. Consider what they learned from past successes and failures relevant to the upcoming journey.

2. Gather information from a variety of sources (the leadership team, people in the organization, leaders outside the organization).

3. Think things through regarding how the journey will affect them, others, and the organization overall.

4. They balance optimism and realism, faith and fact.

Navigation Strategy: PLAN AHEAD

Predetermine a course of action.

Lay out your goals.

Adjust your priorities.

Notify key personnel.

Allow time for acceptance.

Head into action.

Expect problems.

Always point to the successes.

Daily review your plan.

Discussion

Look at the four steps in the navigation process.

Which ones have you used before you begin a project? What would interfere with you taking all four steps before your next project?

Of the components in the PLAN AHEAD strategy:

• Which are you most likely to do well?

• Which are you likely to skip or do poorly?

• What would help you become stronger in each of the components (coaching, watching someone, training, tips/tools)?

5-Law of E. F. Hutton

The real leader is the one people wait to hear before they act. To become a real leader:

1. Develop depth of character.

2. Build the right kinds of relationships with the right people.

3. Become knowledgeable about the key factors affecting the organization.

4. Learn to deal with intangibles.

5. Develop relevant experiences that show you are capable of facing challenges.

6. Develop a track record of successes.

7. Strengthen your abilities to the point that you can prove your capability.

Discussion

Of the seven developmental areas to become a real leader, which are your strengths and which need most work?

Pick one to strengthen. Develop an action plan.

6-Law of Solid Ground

When it comes to leadership, it’s not safe to take shortcuts. Over time, if you make good decisions and record wins for the organization, you will build credibility.

Trust is the foundation of leadership. Treat trust as your most precious asset. Character makes trust possible and trust makes leadership possible. To build trust, make sound decisions, admit mistakes, and consistently put the welfare of your followers and the organization ahead of your self interests.

Discussion

To what degree do you think your followers and peers trust you? Consider:

Trust Factor

Rating scale: 1 never<.2.3.4.>5 always

A. How often do you do what you say you’re going to do in the timeframe you promised? Rating ____

B. How often do you build up others instead of tearing them down (even if it’s “kidding”) Rating ____

7-Law of Respect

People don’t follow others by accident.

They follow individuals with leadership they respect.

Discussion

What leaders are you fully following?

In what ways are those leaders stronger than you?

8-Law of Intuition

Intuition helps leaders become readers of the intangibles of leadership.

• Notice details of changes to the situation or environment.

• Pay attention to where things seem to be headed.

• In every situation, look for available resources: materials, technology, people.

• Pay attention to changes in people’s moods and behaviors.

• Notice changes to your own state of mind, strengths, and weaknesses.

The principles of leadership are constant; however, the application changes with every leader and situation. That’s why intuition is important.

Discussion

What could you do to be more aware of the intangibles in the above list?

9-Law of Magnetism

You tend to attract people who are similar in attitude, generation, background, values, life experiences, and leadership ability. If you think the people you attract could be better, it’s time for you to improve yourself.

Discussion

What one thing could you improve about yourself to attract better leaders?

10-Law of Connection

To lead yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your heart.

Effective leaders know they have to touch people’s hearts before asking them for a hand. The stronger the relationship and connection between individuals, the more likely the follower will want to help the leader. As a leader, take the initiative to build relationships.

Discussion

• In what ways do you take the initiative to build relationships with others? Give examples.

• How can you do this if it appears you share no interests or commonalities with a person?

11-Law of the Inner Circle

Every leader’s potential is determined by the people closest to him/her. Bring the following five types of people into your inner circle.

1. POTENTIAL Value: Those who are good at leading themselves.

2. POSITIVE Value: Those who boost the morale of others.

3. PERSONAL Value: Those who raise up you, who support you and help you improve.

4. PRODUCTIVE Value: Those who are good at developing other people.

5. PROVEN Value: Those who develop other leaders who develop people. Surround yourself with the best people possible.

Discussion

• What people are now in your inner circle? Which of the criteria do they fit?

• What other people fit the criteria? What can you do to build relationships with them?

A. Potential Value : ______________________________________

B. Positive Value : _______________________________________

C. Personal Value : ______________________________________

D. Productive Value : ___________________________________

E. Proven Value : ________________________________________

12-Law of Empowerment

If you want to be successful as a leader, you have to empower others. The greatest things happen only when you give others the credit. Enlarging others makes you larger.

Discussion

What factors make it easier or more difficult for you to give others authority over something that is important to you?

13-Law of Reproduction

The only way you will be able to develop other leaders is to become a better leader yourself.

To develop leaders:

• See the big picture. The potential of Grace depends on the growth of its leadership.

• Develop yourself so that you can attract people with leadership potential.

• Create an eagle environment: cast a vision, offer incentives, encourage creativity, allow risks, and provide accountability. Discussion

• As you look around you at Grace, do you pay attention to indicators of leadership potential? Give some examples.

• In what ways are you developing yourself as a leader that prospective leaders might follow?

14-Law of Buy-In

Having a great vision or worthy cause is not enough to get people to follow. People buy into the leader before buying into the leader’s vision.

Discussion

• Have you given people reason to buy into you?

• How can you tell if people buy into you as a leader?

15-Law of Victory

Victory is more important than being right. Three Components of Victory

1. Teams only succeed when there is unity of vision.

2. Teams require diverse talents to succeed.

3. Teams only succeed if they have a dedicated leader who gives the encouragement, empowerment, and direction they need to win.

A leader must not accept defeat. Victory is the only option. There is no plan B.

Discussion

• How can your group achieve unity of vision?

• What are the talents on your team? What talents are lacking to have sufficient diversity?

• As a leader, are you giving enough encouragement, empowerment, and direction? How do you know?

16-Law of the Big Momentum

At the beginning, your key task is to build momentum. Here are some tips:

• Keep the vision in front of your team.

• Focus on what your team can do rather than what it can’t do.

• Celebrate victories, no matter how small.

• Make progress where you can.

• Continually focus on developing leaders.

Discussion

• What specific things do you do to keep the vision in front of your team?

• In your interaction with your team what percentage of the time do you focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t do?

• Give examples of small victories you have celebrated.

• How do you make sure the team continues to make progress?

• What are you doing to develop leaders?

17-Law of Priorities

Pareto Principle:

If you focus your attention on the activities that rank in the top 20 percent of importance, you will have an 80 percent return on your effort. Order your life by the three Rs.

1. Always begin with what your boss requires of you. Either do it or delegate. Your job is to see that it’s delivered.

2. Focus on what gives the greatest return. Spend most of your time working in your areas of greatest strength. Engage others to assist with necessary things not in your area of strength.

3. Focus on what gives the greatest reward. Don’t accept all opportunities. Accept the ones that fulfill you.

The best leaders find ways to satisfy multiple priorities with each activity.

Discussion

• In reviewing the projects currently on your schedule, which are the top 20% in importance?

• How much of your time do you devote to the top 20% of your projects?

• To what degree do you focus on what your boss requires of you?

• How much of your time do you spend on tasks that bring the greatest return?

• When an opportunity comes, what criteria do you use to decide it you will take it?

18-Law of Sacrifice

The true nature of leadership is sacrifice. Sacrifice is an ongoing process. Effective leaders sacrifice much that is good to dedicate themselves to what is best.

Discussion

In what ways have you experienced a decrease in rights and increase in responsibilities as the diagram shows?

• To what degree are you comfortable with sacrifices as a leader?

• What sacrifices have you made as a leader?

19-Law of Timing

Great leaders recognize that when to lead is as important as what to do and where to go.

4 Possible Outcomes to Every Move

4a. wrong action at wrong time - DISASTER

4b. right action at wrong time - RESISTANCE

4c.wrong action at right time - MISTAKE

4d. right action at right time - SUCCESS

Discussion

How can you tell when the time is right?

What could make you hesitate when you know the time is right?

20-Law of Explosive Growth

Leaders who develop leaders multiply their growth. The better the leaders that you develop, the greater the quality and quantity of followers.

Recruiting, developing, and retaining leaders is difficult because they tend to want to go their own way. Leadership development takes time, energy, and resources.

Discussion

• What do you look for in prospective leaders?

• What methods do you use to recruit and engage leaders?

• What time, energy, and resources are you personally investing in developing leaders?

21-Law of Legacy

Leave a legacy by doing the following:

• Lead the organization with a “long view.” Lead with both tomorrow and today in mind.

• Create a culture of leadership development. It is the only way to build the breadth and depth of leadership to continue to grow an organization.

• Pay the price today to assure success tomorrow. You must determine the sacrifices necessary to develop leaders.

• Value team leadership above individual leadership. The larger the organization, the stronger, larger, and deeper the team of leaders needs to be.

• Walk away from the organization with integrity. When it’s time to leave, do it with grace. Every leader eventually leaves. To leave a legacy, put the organization in a position to do great things without you.

Discussion

• When you decide which project or program to do, in what ways do you consider the long view as a criteria?

• Think of some specific, practical things Grace could do to help create a culture of leadership development.

• What price are you paying today to help Grace have success tomorrow?

• Think of a group of leaders with whom you interact. How do you behave with that group to demonstrate that you value team leadership? What aspects of team leadership make you uncomfortable? What accommodation do you make to work through that discomfort?

• In what ways are you preparing yourself and the organization to make your eventual departure pain free?

Leadership Primer Programme - Beyond Success

Facilitated Programme (online / Face to face)

About Beyond Success

This is a leadership foundation programme. The focus is on developing your knowledge and skill set for personal growth as an individual. In total a 3 part Christian Principles based self improvement and transformation programme to start of your journey into leadership. Each Part can be done independently but it is best to complete the whole programme.

Content

Part 1:

Success principles and factors; such as attitude, personal growth, priorities, work ethic and relationships.

Part 2:

Leading / facilitating Part 1 of the programme. (this is where your growth as a leader begins)

Duration: one round of part 1.

Part 3:

Transformation / Reinforcement - Ongoing participation in programme thru facilitation of new groups 2 or 3 runs a year. This is the process in which you choose how often you would like to initiate potential leaders into the habits of success and in the process deepening further in your understanding and habit building while developing relations and influence with the new part.

Method of Learning:

The learning system employed is the round-table format, which encourages participation via the use of two-way communications to reinforce the learning as opposed to the one-way communication system where one person talks and the other listens. The one-way system is a good way to convey information but is not effective for transformation which is the objective of this programme.

Part 2 where you facilitate others is where your skills at building relationships and leading are built and where you will deepen your understanding of the key principles of leadership in relation to yourself.

Part 3 by inviting and facilitating on a regular basis you continue on a personal basis to deepen your habits of success will more importantly build relationships that will help you influence others.

Program Content:

Part 1. The Six Keys to Success

1. Attitude: The World You See is Colored by Your Attitude

2. Personal Growth: People Who Keep Learning Always Have a Future

3. Priorities: Clear Priorities Show You What to Do and Where to Go

4. Relationships: The Quality of Your Relationships Determines the Quality of Your Life

5. My Most important Relationship (Bonus session)

6. From Good Intentions to Good Action

7. From Success to Significant

2025 Online Schedule (Zoom / Google Meet)

Apply for a place [click here]

Max Participants 10 (First come first serve, if your application is successful you will be informed by email or by phone)

(Usual cost of program - RM 300 However, the online program is sponsored thus it is free for members of Caritas MJD e.g., POHD, SSVP and successful applicants)

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