The problem with pastors is common to all leaders. What’s the problem? We aren’t Triple-Threat Leaders because we have a hard time mastering the three critical skills for leadership: casting Vision, executing Strategy, and fostering Relationships. I suggest you read the first two parts of this series here before finishing this post.
Today, let’s look at the analogy of a human body to help understand the critical nature all these three elements:
STRATEGY
Some people thrive on it. Some feel like it is restricting. Some people don’t even know what it means. Regardless of how we feel about the word, it is necessary. Strategy is the thought and planning that happens before taking any actions. Strategy provides structure for leadership the same way that a person’s skeleton provides structure for their body. It provides a foundation upon which leadership can be built. Without a skeleton a person would just be a useless pile of flesh unable to move or function. Without the execution of strategy, attempts to lead becomes “feel-good” meetings or brainstorming sessions where nothing really gets done.
RELATIONSHIP
Some pride themselves on being “people persons” while others prefer a hermit’s life. Whether you are a “people-person”, a hermit (or somewhere in between) relationships are a vital component for effective leadership. If strategy is the skeleton, relationship is the flesh, muscles and organs. What good is leadership without heart? How impersonal is leadership without a face? Leadership without relationship is frightening. It’s all bones and no life. Ultimately it’s not really leadership at all.
VISION
Strategy is the skeleton, relationship is the flesh, and vision is the food for leadership. Vision provides the fuel that energizes people to do what needs to be done and to become what they need to become. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Without vision, leadership starves. It may have strategy and relationships but without vision, strategy and relationships become inwardly focused. The organization turns on itself like a starving body turns on itself and begins to suck nutrients and energy from its own stores of fat and protein. The unfortunate side effect of strategy and relationships without vision is a malnourished malformed teams that are terribly dysfunctional.
Come back tomorrow and learn more about how to make all three of these skills a part of your leadership approach.
