A conversation at Catalyst last fall with Alan Nelson, former editor at Rev! magazine, led to this reminder about different types of volunteer leaders in the church.
- Relational leaders are the care givers and sales people of the world. They influence through their superior people skills. Relational leaders gain followers by genuinely caring for them. They are both introverts and extroverts, but they excel in making people feel good about themselves.
- Teaching leaders have the power of communicating information that helps people gain knowledge. Many pastors are teaching leaders, as they enjoy investing 20-25 hours weekly in sermon prep and presenting. They are wearied by other ministry aspects, but love the task of preparing to feed the flock.
- Managerial leaders are good organizers, tracking details, and following through on plans. They are the people who get things done, so long as there is something to be managed, maintained, or carried out. Managers make sure that the bills get paid and things get put where they belong. They are administrators and task oriented.
- Catalyzing leaders are the pioneers and strategists. They are willing to take risks, problem solve, and make the tough calls where they need to happen. Because they are willing to step out in faith, they are sometimes spurned by others who grow weary of the full-speed-ahead attitude of these go-getters. These are the Joshuas and Calebs needed for Promised Land ventures.
To get Nelson's full take on the idea, see the whole post here.
As I deal with churches every day, I often see frustrated leaders that are "stuck", which leads the church to become "stuck", or worse.
When you look at this list, where do you see yourself? Where do you see your key leaders? Are there types of leaders missing in action in your church?
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