2Tim 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Among the great fears of most thoughtful pastors is becoming the lid on the church’s potential. That was continually true of me, but especially in the transition from seminary to a lead pastor role. I was confident in my Biblical training and my calling but NOT in my leadership capacity. As the church grew through different seasons, I was grateful and excited. But there was often a nagging anxiety about whether I could grow enough as a leader to keep leading well in the church I loved.
Leadership can be taught! That was good news for a nervous heart!
The most significant early book (outside of the Bible) that gave me hope and practical help was Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell. There has been a flood of pastoral leadership books since, but this was foundational for me early in ministry. I found myself coming back to it often and reading it with others I sought to develop.
His premise is that while, “the effectiveness of your work will never rise about your ability to lead and influence others” (Introduction). That leadership can be taught! That was good news for a nervous heart! He notes in the forward that even those born with leadership qualities must have the discipline to learn and sharpen their gifts.
John Maxwell was a highly effective pastor for many years before embracing the call to help more of us become better leaders. While he may not be as well known among emerging leaders, this particular book can still provide important early mile markers for anyone’s leadership growth. It is full of easy to read, memorable and easily quotable wisdom.
His highly readable ten chapters begin by defining leadership as influence. The first chapter clarifies his seminal thoughts on five levels of leadership and how to grow through them with intentional focus. He breaks it down so anyone can recognize where they are and what to work on next. Some of us need it spelled out like that early!
Among the great fears of most thoughtful pastors is becoming the lid on the church’s potential.
The fourth chapter on change is a goldmine of wisdom that begins with the statement “Change the leader, change the organization” (p. 49). He correctly notes that leaders resist change as much as followers do. We don’t like to admit this, but think of the times someone other than you suggested change. What is your first core reaction? With memorable anecdotes, he encourages us that we must continue changing personally if we are going to lead change effectively where God has placed us. This chapter continues with a framework for understanding why we resist change, creating a climate for change and how to lead others to embrace it.
The focus of chapter seven is that developing other people is crucial to higher impact leadership. Early in life it seems we all long to be competent doers. Some learn to help others be better doers. A few learn to help other become developers. Sounds to me like moving from being a disciple to a disciple maker to a disciple making movement maker.
The principles unpacked here suggest that successful people developers:
- Make the right assumption about people;
- Ask the right questions about people; and
- Give the right assistance to people. (p. 115).
The most significant reminders for me, however, came after. He reminds us that developing people takes time. There is no microwave to do it for us. it is also often a bumpy process which leads to the chapter’s closing thought: “Leaders must care for people before they can develop them” (p. 134). If we don’t care for them, we won’t pay the price or take the time to develop them. One of my greatest joys in ministry has been helping others discover can develop in God’s calling on their lives. Watching them mature in Christ and His calling is a great blessing. This chapter sharpened my ability to do that early.
The chapter on vision is a great introduction to the nature and importance of it in a leader’s life. He observes that all effective leaders have a vision of what they must accomplish.” (p. 139). Yet though it begins in them, it goes well beyond them when they lead well. The first section unpacks how a vision incubates and matures in a leader. Then he moves to helping an organization embrace and align to a unified vision. His description of what hinders vision in an organization is the real gold in this chapter.
Other topics he covers include: priorities, integrity, problem solving, attitude, self-discipline and staff development. Many books great books on leadership have come after this one and are well worth reading as well. This one crossed my path at a crucial time in my growth giving a clear scaffolding, with practical steps and inspiring encouragement to that I could learn to lead better.
While there are different gifts and levels of leadership. I believe that we are called to be faithful to grow into the gifts and calling God has given each of us. Many of us have a nagging sense that the church could be more. That its impact should be more. Often that rests on our continued growth as leaders AND our willingness to develop others. This was an early book that helped me advance while bringing others with me. If you missed it along the way, it might do the same for you.
The Pastor's Life 
John, thanks for reminding me of this great book. It was one of the first leadership books I read early in my career and the lessons I learned have served me well (alas some I’m still working on!) Great timeless teaching and inspiring lessons for all of our nervous hearts.
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