What is your vision to cultivate leaders?
Churches that have a vision to cultivate leaders demonstrate four keys to spot, train and mobilize leaders. If you are having success in this area, assess how you are doing in these four areas. If you are new to the idea of developing leaders, identify the area(s) where you need to begin and get to work! Here are the four areas that churches cultivate in order to develop leaders:
- Clearly defined pathway and outcomes
- Specific skill assessment and training
- Robust coaching system
- Community to cultivate relationships
Clearly defined pathway with outcomes
Every journey needs a map. To cultivate leaders, it is healthy for everyone to know the steps involved and for each individual to understand where they are at any given time. Think back to your journey.
- Who came alongside you?
- What steps were involved?
- How was the invitation given?
Look at the Effective Leadership Storyboard below as a pathway that churches of all kinds typically follow.
Specific skill assessment and training
Think with the end in mind: what are the key skills that you need to help leaders develop?
- Gather a team of leaders who think strategically.
- Brainstorm a list of essential skills needed to lead.
- Refine that list until you and your team come to an agreement.
Consider the Leadership Skill Builder and Leadership Effectiveness Profile below as resources to assess and help leaders grow their leadership skills.
Robust coaching system
Coaching is a relationship with the purpose of cultivating leaders.
- What did the person who came alongside you do to support you in your development?
- How has this shaped your approach to developing leaders?
- What do you actually do to cultivate leaders?
In this article, we have outlined the five best ways to develop coaches – and to grow as a coach in the process. A great place to get started is to read Christian Coaching Essentials. One of the most critical things a Christian coach does is help people listen and respond to the Holy Spirit. You will find QR codes embedded in the book to help you go deeper into the key aspects of becoming an excellent coach.
Community to cultivate relationships
This environment prioritizes leadership development for your people. Think of it as the engine for the other three above!
- Coaching keeps leaders engaged.
- Skill assessment and training offer strategic focus.
- A pathway serves as a map to follow.
The environment sustains leaders from one step to the next, one generation to the next.
If you are interested in learning more about how InFocus can help you develop your leadership development process – CLICK HERE!
Survey says….
As you know, InFocus empowers leaders to navigate complex issues of ministry to multiply disciples, cultivate leaders, and plant churches. The way we do that is coaching, training and consulting. Do us a favor and let us know how we can best service you in 2024.
Your voice matters. As we plan out how to best come alongside you in your ministry, we want to hear from the person who matters most—you. You know your ministry. You know your skill sets and goals. Take a minute or two to complete this SHORT SURVEY to let us know how we can laser-focus on what you need most in 2024. Your response will directly impact what you get from us this year.
Resources to cultivate leaders:
Effective Leadership Storyboard
Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash
