Today I'm doing a session at the Exponential Conference titled: the five greatest challenges every leader faces. It's a dry-run for our Unplugged event in June.
So I want to do a little blog research. Would you take a second to comment on this question: what is the greatest challenge that you face in leadership?
So I want to do a little blog research. Would you take a second to comment on this question: what is the greatest challenge that you face in leadership?
62 Comments:
I don't know if it's the "greatest" challenge, but the first one that comes to mind is this:
finding the balance between pushing people to take the next step (ministry, faith, leadership, etc.), and leaving people room to feel welcomed, accepted, and free to grow at their own pace.
Looking forward to pt. 2 of your creative communication intensive this morning...
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One of the greatest challenges is not pushing forward. When something is a success, we don't make it better. When things are fine, we don't strive for excellence.
So, I would say one of the greatest challenges for me is always seeking a brighter way to make bigger impact for Jesus. As Ben Arment said in a recent blog post, "If you are executing the same creative ideas you did last year because they worked, you are already on the decline."
Keep the creative stuff following...man am I looking forward to chasing a goose or two.
Making sure you are moving & leading your group in the "right" way at the "right" time!
Mike Linch
NorthStar Church/Kennesaw, GA
Wish I was in Orlando!!! I talked with a couple friends who are there and got some scoop on your sessions yesterday.
Anyway, my biggest challenge is making sure that I work on the 'deliverables' for this week (staff one on ones, other important meetings, sermon prep) while also delving into the strategic, longer term stuff. In any given week, one can crowd the other out, but both are necessary and vital.
Knowing when to lead and knowing when to follow.
My biggest challenge is being open to the idea that maybe I could possibly be wrong about an idea, or sticking to my guns because I know that while the idea might be unpleasant or scary, it's the right thing to do, and it's where I sense the Lord leading. When an idea that is unpleasant or scary, it's even more important to lead through it.
Keeping the main thing the main thing
As the staff grows it takes more time and effort to keep the vision the vision. People naturally tend to gravitate toward their vision and you have to keep them centered and focused on the overall vision.
My biggest challenge:
Even though I am naturally outgoing I struggle with leading retreats and staff meetings. Stuff like content, agenda, order, where to go next, where to lead them, when to stop, etc.
My biggest challenge:
Leading a staff retreat. I am a naturally outgoing person but struggle when it comes to leading staff retreats (what to do, what comes next, where do I lead them,etc). That also comes into play sometimes in the weekly staff meetings.
having a high standard for myself in the areas no one can see. Pastoral leadership can be tough, but personal growth and excellence that only God can measure is a completely different story.
I struggle with leading from beneath. Meaning, leading under the leaders above me. Sometimes I know that a certain decision is not the right decision, but I'm trying to learn how to jump on board and support them through the decision.
It's very humbling and revealing.
loneliness, finances and staffing issues.
My greatest challenge is not becoming isolated at the top, and disconnected from the actual people that my decisions effect.
In my mind it's the image of the CEO regularly walking the warehouse floor just to keep a feel for the production process and to see the actual product.
For me there are a few big ones…Keeping spiritual passion HOT…Purity-as God has control taken control of my purity, I have grown much…health-taking care of my body, so I can be more effective…balance of family & ministry... discouragement-whether perceived or real
Greatest leadership challenge: Coming to the realization that I know absolutely nothing. It usually happens when a major decision has to be made and my team is staring at me in the face.
I run a couple of businesses and the single most thing that I as a leader struggle with is focus. There are so many good ideas and directions to head. Sometimes there are no wrong answers. But you cant find the right one if you focus on all the good ones. Like the guy said the good is the enemy of the best. Trying to be all things to all people creates diffusion. Once you arrive at the idea you want to persue you effectively burn your ships and you can rally your team to achieve the goal. Whether it be a business or a church, focus is a top 5 leadership skill. Without it you have disorder.
Not forcing my vision before God's timing.
Leading prematurely
I would have to say the greatest leadership challenge I face is leading myself.
I am not led by a "Type A" style of leader. He is very hands off and laid back. It is great in one sense because I get to do what God has called me to do, but in the other sense he doesn't speak into my life so I am left to my own leading.
Creating healthy change and all the details that come with that--timing, communication, having patience, etc.
I think the biggest challenge that I see in leadership is the idea that most leaders are more concerned about being a leader then they are about serving others around them.
I struggle with the idea of being so focused about where we need to go that I have to constantly remind myself to take the hand of the weakest link and walk beside them through the transition. That's my biggest challenge in leadership.
The biggest challenge I face is working with a leadership team that doesn't know how to lead. Especially when I am under another leader.
I feel like Pastor Justin in that I end up having to lead myself. I go forward with what God is calling me to do, but I feel our team and our leader is very pragmatic, but not "tuned in" to where God wants to lead us.
used to struggle with criticism...not anymore but i think a lot of people do
Being a leader in every aspect of my life. Have leadership characteristics that come naturally rather than leadership principles I try to apply.
Hiring well.
My greatest leadership challenge is to daily....boldly...accept the mantle of leadership.
Darlene
My greatest leadership challenge is to daily....boldly...accept the mantle of leadership.
Darlene
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True Relationships vs. Fake Smile...I am a 25 year old who loves to connected and be around people but I find myself getting wrapped up into the logistical part of church that really means nothing to me. Where is the line between service unto God and service unto the people? I am now on pd staff but at times feel like it is now just a job vs a ministry.
Hard to pick just one.
I'd say a big one for me is recogizing the distractions that keep me from focusing on the goal. Sometimes the derastractions can seem like priorities and the priorities can seem like distractions.
I recently moved from a corporate leadership position into ministry. I've found that leaderhsip in a ministry context is so much more about subtle influence than brute force (of authority or of ideas). Being "in charge" or being right is less important than caring poeople thorugh the decision and leading them to a place of "buy in."
It was alot easier and I slept alot better in my old job!
I recently moved from a corporate leadership position into ministry. I've found that leaderhsip in a ministry context is so much more about subtle influence than brute force (of authority or of ideas). Being "in charge" or being right is less important than caring poeople thorugh the decision and leading them to a place of "buy in."
It was alot easier and I slept alot better in my old job!
Hey Mark! Love your blog...thanks for pouring into my life.
My greatest challenge is probably time demands. Feeling stretched in too many areas. Not allowing insignificant things to demand the most time.
With a group of more than 5,000 distributors worldwide, for me it is duplication from top to bottom. I want to make sure that the newest person in my organization is doing the things the seasoned veterans are doing.
I also have a hard time letting people run at their own pace. Not everyone is going to run a six minute mile, nor should they. My pace is not their pace, and I tend to want to carry others across the finish line; sometimes even before they've crossed the start line.
Terry
...Leveraging my chocies for greatest impact.
Being assertive without being aggressive and pushy, but being humble without being a pushover.
I think just balancing assertiveness and not being nervous to be tough when I have to be.
greatest leadership challenge:
Balancing the biggest priorities. allow me to explain:
I love being a husband, father, church planter, and leader. Most of the time, I'm red-hot passionate, even in dealing with tough stuff. My on-going greatest challenges is balancing my passions for family, ministry, and leadership. To me it's not "work" planting, leading, and pastoring our church. I love what I do (and that's not because we haven't been through tough stuff).
I believe firmly the core value communicated well by Martin Luther, "pray like everything depends on God work like everything depends on you". But type A, entrepreneurs will finish praying and keep on working.
I'm learning to balance putting down what I'm passionate about and what I'm called to and prioritize my marriage and family.
My greatest leadeship challenge is stepping into the God-given authority that has been given me, and not shying away from it because of fear of what people might say or think. It's humbling to admit that, but that is the truth.
Maintaining the balance of: the quiet reflection time in the presence of God, choosing the right targets to pour my ministry life into, and having the time and energy to powerfully love my wife and kids.
Staying innovative.
It's easy to fall into a rut.
As a leader in the broadcasting industry, not in ministry, I find my greatest challenge is finding time to lead and not just manage. Being innovative and forward thinking and leading people where I need them to go is a challenge when you get lost in managing minutia.
My greatest leadership challenge is leading myself. As a leader, you can't lead where you haven't been and you won't be able to lead leaders that are stronger than you. That sounds a bit confusing, but the bottom line is that I have to keep learning and growing as a leader if I expect the people I lead to keep learning and growing too.
First one that came to mind was "avoiding mediocrity", but I also struggle with leading myself.
Peace...
Dan, NZ
Hey Mark,
NO QUESTION...LEADING MYSELF.
We hear and read so much about leadership in our culture today. We all love a good challenge and creative ideas on this topic.
However, all the great ideas and best practices will eventually fall woefully short and we will implode as leaders if we are not capable of leading ourselves.
Why? Less public accountability for the things that really matter! We can get by on charisma and people skills but when the inside isn't right it will eventually all fall apart!
For me it is delegating.
For me it is delegating.
I believe that the biggest leadership challenge I face is the leading of myself. I must face this every day before i am able to lead anyone else.
I cannot ask anyone to "go" or "do" anything I haven't already been through myself or are at least willing to go through it together.
Todd Johns
Overflow Church
Benton Harbor, MI
Balance - especially as a female in church leadership for 7 years my greatest challenge has been finding my unique voice in church management and creating a rhythm of life that balances God, family and church.
I am blessed to work with men and women that value our unique gifts and life experiences which is vital to the leadership of our church and reaching our community. However, as you all know, it is never easy! Ministry is the toughest yet best career you can ever have!
Keeping my wife and family my TOP priority!
As a manager of a large retail store, the biggest challenge for me is making sure that I find the time to coach and redirect. It is so important that my employees know what RIGHT looks like and as well that I am able to coach and redirect when necessary so that they can be a success and we can meet a common goal.
Todd Strickland
Balancing Church Vision with family life. Vision brings new momentum, and momentum creates motion. It is so easy to lose touch with family and to be swept away in the tide of motion. For what it's worth: As one thinks about the vision for their church, one also must include a personal vision for your family as well. It will serve as a safeguard to your kids and spouse. Believe me, it's natural to come back from a Pastoral conference and think, "I'm ready to go for the gold - and break the bank with my time on this thing." And yet, I have found that a good leader keeps balance in perspective. Thus, this a great leadership challenge for any pastor serious about his or her family while leading a church forward.
Making sure that I invest my scare and precious time and energy into that which only I can do that will really make a difference
Craig Mathison
What's amazing is the challenges I faced yesterday are not my challenges today.
Today's greatest challenge deals with taking over an existing team that has lost it's focus and even some passion. What I have found is it's easier turning around a moving ship than one not moving at all.
My focus right now is determining the direction we need to go and putting all of my energy into leading one person at a time (since teams are made up of individuals), so they'll gain their momentum back. Then we can turn that ship around and begin accomplishing the God given vision for our church!
What's amazing is the challenges I faced yesterday are not my challenges today.
Today's greatest challenge deals with taking over an existing team that has lost it's focus and even some passion. What I have found is it's easier turning around a moving ship than one not moving at all.
My focus right now is determining the direction we need to go and putting all of my energy into leading one person at a time (since teams are made up of individuals), so they'll gain their momentum back. Then we can turn that ship around and begin accomplishing the God given vision for our church!
confusion. i recommend reading dan allender's "leading with a limp" which is based on research of christian leaders and the most common challenges they face.
criticism. criticism. criticism. I hate it so much that I don't even know if I spelled it right!
Pastor Mark and fellow NCCers,
My biggest challenge is that self deceiving lie of that I am not called to be a leader. The self defeating belief I do not matter at all in God's great redemeption plan. Yet the words that I say to myself and others seem to ring in my ears. The differnce between arrogance and confidence is that arrogance is exclusive and confidence is inclusive. Oh by the way, one of my goals this year is to take a hot air balloon ride
My greatest leadership challenge is consolidating people, building them up to become true disciples so they know that Jesus Christ is the answer for everything.
Mine is self-discipline to set the example for other leaders/followers below me
biggest challenge: getting people to collaborate and give each other the benefit of the doubt.
It's amazing how much can get done when you don't have to look over your shoulder for a knife coming down on your back.
Trust = Speed, Agility and Flexibility.
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