Are You Leading People Out the Door?

by Reba Collins

People are going to leave your church for a variety of reasons. It’s a given. But, is your leadership one of those reasons? In business, in church, and in life, leadership either inspires people to stay or it drives them away.

The Barna Group’s latest research confirms the impact of good and bad leadership in the workplace -- and in churches too. They found that two out of five people over the age of 18 consider their immediate bosses to be “bad” leaders.  Barna also found that people who work for “bad” leaders are two times more likely to leave their current places of employment.

Barna’s findings hold true for church leadership for two primary reasons:

1.     People will move away from bad leadership. Many adults are exposed to poor leadership at some point in their professional lives. The majority tolerate working for bad bosses because they are getting paid to do so. Barna found that 62% of those they surveyed indicated that wouldn’t follow their bosses if their paychecks didn’t depend on it. In church world, not many of the “workers” get paid. People will not subject themselves to following a bad leader when they can easily walk away and find many better-led church options or other “difference-making” organizations.

2.     People will gravitate toward great leadership.  So what makes a great leader? Here’s what Barna found doesn’t make a great leader, and the three main “bad boss” complaints are: lack of clear vision and direction, more stress due to boss’ poor leadership, and feeling controlled, manipulated, or put on the defensive.

One the flip side, Barna found great leadership within an organization produces less turnover, a purposeful work environment, and inspired workers. Within a church organization, great leadership encourages more new people to engage in your vision, mission, and ministries and motivates more of your current members to engage and participate. It’s not an “either/or.” It’s both.

So how do you know if you’re a great leader that others will follow willingly and purposefully because no one will tell you how well you are leading them? They will simply drift away or disengage into the land of drones.

Here are four powerful self-reflections to evaluate your own leadership in church:

1.    I’m casting the vision and mission of our church over and over again. I’m constantly reminding people why we are here and what we do.

2.    I have a deep desire to make things better. Jesus calls us to a better way of life and to help make things better for others. I take this personally.

3.    I love progress because the status quo drives me crazy. I help us move forward instead of staying where we are.

4.    I take responsibility to guide and steward myself and my people, including initiating change where it’s needed to fulfill our vision and achieve our mission.

The positive or negative impact of leadership isn’t confined to where we work. Its’ evident in our families and where we serve in church and the community. Churches require the best leadership because the scope of the work the people are called to do. So look around and notice where your people are.

Good leaders take people to the promised land; bad leaders open the door to the wilderness.