Healthy Leaders | Issue 9
Don’t fear questions, critics, decisions, or being forgotten. Do fear God. Also: building few leaders well will always trump building many leaders poorly.
Welcome to Issue 9 of Healthy Leaders.
In this issue ‒ don’t fear questions, critics, decisions, or being forgotten. Do fear God. Also: building few leaders well will always trump building many leaders poorly. Let’s dive in.
Three Reasons Every Christian Should Cultivate Curiosity
Dale Chamberlain thinks that curiosity can be a spiritual discipline for Christians. We would say the same around here, given that one primary indicator of a healthy leader is that they love to learn and grow …
“The act of asking questions is a transformative process. When you ask questions, you begin to unearth not only the things you didn’t know about the world around you, but things you didn’t even know about yourself.
As you are presented with the discomfort of uncertainty, learn to question your discomfort. Explore your unknown biases, beliefs, and values that are a source of anxiety when questioned. Why is it that you think and feel the things you do? Is it because you have arrived at them through an exploration of the possible options? Or is it because you have accepted truths without thinking about them, and now you fear how your worldview may crumple like a house of cards if any of those assumptions are questioned?
If God’s truth really is eternal and immutable, it can handle the prodding of our questions as to its veracity. If we chase our curiosity down the rabbit hole, we will discover one of two things. Either we will have a firmer foundation of confidence in the beliefs we hold, or we will learn that what we have believed is more informed by our experience and culture than it is God’s word of truth. Either way, the process is transforming us.”
Elliot Clark on Evangelism and the Fear of God
Being unafraid to ask questions, however, doesn’t translate into not fearing God. Elliott Clark points out that this neglected characteristic of a healthy leader is linked to the kind of impact leaders long for.
“Have we really taken into account the end and outcome for our friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers? Is our failure to evangelize really an issue of fearing too much, or not fearing nearly enough? Do we cherish our comfort and others’ respect more than we cherish God’s glory and their deliverance?”
Smart Leaders Stay Close to Their Critics
Charles Stone unpacks one of the reasons Ernest Shackleton’s unforgettable Antarctic expedition did not dissolve into infighting and death like other expeditions.
“Shackleton exemplified a key quality needed for every leader: engage your critics. In his time of crisis, he calmly connected to his men, especially the dissidents and troublemakers. It made the difference between life and death.
When our environment breeds anxiety and our critics try to stir up trouble, we can defuse this anxiety by calmly staying connected to them. Neuroscience actually verifies the biblical principle from Proverbs 15:1 that says, “a gentle answer turns away wrath.” It’s called emotional contagion. Others will catch our calmness which actually helps quiet the emotional centers in their brains responsible for anxiety and fear.”
Coming Soon: Global Training on Women and Leadership
The role of women in ministry and leadership in the church is a very controversial issue about which much has been written. We can identify two major extremes of teaching and practice:
In some circles women are not allowed to occupy any position of leadership or fulfill any formal ministry in the church – except for those involving children or other women. This position holds that women are simply never called by God to leadership; leadership is exclusively a male domain.
In other circles, women are constantly found in the very highest positions of authority. This teaching maintains that one should find as many women as men in leadership roles including the very top positions – leadership is a 50/50 proposition when it comes to gender.
Of course, between these two extremes are many shades and nuances. Furthermore, emotions run high on this matter – on both sides. It is an extremely important issue that directly affects everyone in the church.
On September 29 from 12-2pm GST, LeaderSource will be hosting a free training on Women and Leadership. You are welcome to join us!
This is what leaders are saying about these trainings:
“This is the most biblical and balanced teaching we’ve ever heard on the issue of women and leadership. It has sufficiently addressed our longstanding confusion and struggle in this area.”
“This has revolutionized the way that we in our church network think about women and leadership. It’s a breakthrough for us.”
“This teaching has brought deep healing where there has been division, accusation and condemnation, and so much hurt and pain for so many years.”
Join us for this virtual global training on Women and Leadership, examining what the Bible says about the role of women in Christian ministry and leadership!
Saying Yes More Slowly
Being decisive – especially when everyone is asking you to do things – does not always mean that you must make a decision quickly; a wise leader will take the time he or she needs before responding. In this regard, Admired Leadership offers some helpful starter questions to clarify and slow down the decision-making process:
“Who else have you asked?
What is involved?
Why are you asking me?
How important is this to you?
What is the consequence if I can’t do it?
Why am I the best person to do this?
How much preparation is required?
If I can only do a part of this, which part is most important to you?
Who will be in attendance?
What expectations will others have?
Be wary of those who can’t answer these questions. It likely reflects that the request is not that important or you are being asked because you are an easy target. Strongly consider saying ‘No’ to any request that lacks thoughtful answers to clarifying questions.”
If you’re looking at this and thinking you might need some help to become more decisive, there’s a design for that.
Build a Few Leaders Well, Not Many Leaders Poorly
To close us out, here’s Malcolm Webber offering a vital rewiring of our paradigms around leader development.
“Too often, the leaders we turn out are under-built, still entangled in the unresolved struggles of their pasts, not sufficiently grounded in either the Word or the Spirit of God, not sure of who they are or what they’re to do, and not really competent to do it anyway.
It is far better to build a few leaders right, than to build many leaders poorly ….
We must not allow the overwhelming size and urgency of the great task ahead of us (e.g., “the whole world needs to be reached!”) and an exaggerated sense of our own capacities or importance in this regard to dictate sloppy and insufficient approaches to leadership building. We must do what is necessary to build good leaders.
Gideon defeated the Midianites with only 300 (Jud. 7), but they were the right 300!”
That’s all for this one, friends. If you found something encouraging in this letter, share it with a friend. If you’ve found something encouraging outside of this letter, send it our way. We love to share what our leaders love.
Until next time, we’re with you!
— Chris
(for all of us at LeaderSource)