4. Your Team
John Maxwell teaches in his classic book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership the law of the inner-circle, which states those closest to the leader determine the success of the leader. Riddick points out, “Only so often does Peyton Manning come along that regardless of where he goes, he’s just transcendent and will set the standard. Most of the time, it’s everything you have around the guy to get the best out of him.”
5. Dysfunctional Environments
Pastors and church leaders must be wise enough to know if they are in a no-win situation and make the proactive decision to either improve their current environment or seek out alternative solutions. Riddick acknowledges, “Bad situations can ruin quarterback’s career. Good situations can make him better than he even thought he was going to be.”
6. Complacency
Never confuse the finish line with the starting line. Hiring a great pastor or staff member does not ensure success. This is only the starting line. “What really makes the difference is what do you do with the guy once you have him under your umbrella, under your roof,” says Riddick.
7. A System for Development
There are three stages to a successful hiring process of a Christian leader. Riddick teaches us that when drafting a quarterback, “the first phase (of scouting) is evaluating. The second phase is valuing him, putting a price on him that you want to pay him. The third phase is developing him and implementing him into your system. … You make or break all players in that third phase.”
8. Fundamentals
Small things make a big difference in ministry. Successful pastors and church leaders do the fundamentals well. Riddick recounts his time with former Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid: “He is very particular about the fundamentals. He’s looking for specific things and it starts with the feet. … Then his eyes, then his arm angles.”
9. Pressure
The stress of ministry can be overwhelming. How a pastor or church leader manages stress is a key component to their success. New England quarterback Tom Brady once said, “To me, what separates really good players from great players: executing well under pressure. The biggest game. The biggest stage. That’s what playing quarterback is all about.” Riddick adds, “What makes a difference with quarterbacks? It’s what’s in here (head). … It’s what’s between his ears when the pressure is on him. … How do players react when there is intense pressure on him.” The same is true with pastors and church leaders.
From your experience, what other items make or break pastors and church leaders?
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