follow the leader | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts Great Leaders Are Great Followers: Part 1

This week we’re focusing on leadership—and conveniently each of the principles we’re sharing this month start with the letter “F.” Why, you ask? No reason, really.

Follow-Up
A parent mentions something to you in passing right before you walk on stage to give announcements. Later that afternoon, as you are dozing off on the couch while watching football, you suddenly, vaguely, remember something about a concerned parent. You have no recollection of what the parent wanted, or the level of concern in her voice. You shrug it off and decide that if it was something serious, she’ll be sure to track you down. Great leaders have ability and willingness to follow up when others would shrug it off; to take action steps others would have long forgotten. If you want to be a strong leader, accept nothing less than excellent follow-up to each interaction.

Practical ways to get better at following up: Flag emails that need your action. Always start with that folder first to knock some of those out right away. Get good at leaving yourself quick voice memos on your phone you can track down later. Use a Moleskin (real paper—gasp!) or the Stickies app to help you jot down quick thoughts you need to follow-up on later.

Follow the Leader
You serve Jesus…and the pastor He has called to lead your church. Too often youth workers get frustrated by their position on the church staff totem pole (somewhere below the janitor). God has called you to a church and he has called you to serve those “above you.” Until things change, you are to serve and honor them. Breaking the unity of the church is a rookie mistake—veteran leaders with longevity know how to follow the leader…even if it’s the church janitor.

Practical ways to get better at following the leader: Ask them out for lunch one day this week to help build your relational storehouse. Make sure your interactions go beyond crisis management or only meeting when problems arise. Send a thank you card or note to your leader. Appreciate the real weight of those leading your whole church.

This post was written by Josh Griffin and Kurt Johnston and originally appeared as part of Simply Youth Ministry Today free newsletter. Subscribe to SYM Today right here.

1 View Comments November 30, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts GUEST POST: Follow the Leader

Just got my tale handed to me from a guy in Texas. Actually it was through a message from last years Right Now Conference by Tim Ross of the Potters House in Texas. The message was a challenge to make sure that we are being the person that others should be following.

If you consider yourself a leader think back to when you played the little game “follow the leader” on the playground. You are the guy in the front of a line taking all of those behind you where you want them to go. You are the one at the front of the line that is being imitated by everyone behind you. I know it may be a bit over simplified but in essence that is what you are doing as a leader.

Do you ever stop and consider where you are taking them and what they are imitating.

In Romans 12:8 Paul encourages those who have been given the gift of leadership to take that responsibility seriously. I take that responsibility very seriously…or at least think that I do.

Tim Ross brings out 1st Corinthians 4:3 where Paul speaks these words…
“For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So I urge you to IMITATE ME!”

It’s one thing to play a silly little game on a playground where you see where you can get people to go and how funny you can get them to act. But it is a CRAZY BRAVE thing to URGE…not just ask…but urge people to “IMITATE ME, follow me, do what I do”. But Paul is not just telling people to follow him up a hill or through the swings, flapping their arms while barking like a dog.

Paul is telling them in 1st Corinthians 11:1
“You should IMITATE ME as I IMITATE CHRIST.”

As a Spiritual Leader (whether you are a pastor, church staff, department leader, team member, FATHER or MOTHER, or BELIEVER) it is our responsibility to lead others to and in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Can you make the same declaration as Paul…”IMITATE ME as I IMITATE CHRIST. Because, if you imitate me then you are becoming more like Christ?”

If they do imitate you are they be becoming more or less like Christ?

OUCH…I know it hurts me to…

But think about that for a moment.

There are two groups of people that we are leading; those that we lead because we have been given that place or position. Then there are those around us who are following without ever being asked to do so. They do because of our relationship with them. Maybe they have seen us pass by and have just jumped in line following us around the playground of life.

Either way we have been given the “gift of leadership”and we must take that responsibility seriously. Imitate Christ…so that when they imitate you…they are really only imitating Him.

Steven Moore is the husband to a beautiful woman, father to TWO adorable daughters, pastor to amazing teenagers, son of the Father (Romans 8:15-16). Check out his blog right here.