The Leadership Buffet
As I wrote in my book The Humility Factor, there is a literal buffet of leadership styles that can be effective in our churches and our organizations, and every one of them has positive and negative characteristics that impact the lives of the people who follow the leaders. I believe that because churches and organizations are all unique and need leaders who have particular strengths, talents, and qualities that match the situation; however, I also believe that in addition to their unique skill set, personality, and viewpoints, leaders must be humble, following the principles of humble intelligence modeled by Jesus.
I outlined 22 different leadership styles and discussed how humble intelligence makes each style better. Let’s take some time to highlight a few of those styles, one at a time, beginning with the obvious style of humble leadership. Note: The words pastor and leader are interchangeable. Organizations need humble leaders just as much as churches need humble pastors.
Humble Leader
A humble leader is collaborative, thinks higher of others than themselves, shares decisions and authority, gives away credit, and is self-aware. According to Eats with Sinners author Arron Chambers, the essence of humility begins at the foot of the cross and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to save another person from an eternity without God. Using a well into which people have fallen as a metaphor for those who have fallen into sin, Chambers states,
Christlike humility requires that we never forget the well and those trapped inside it. None of us is too good, too holy, too important, too successful, too prominent in our denomination, too valuable to our church board, too recognizable from our television ministry, too anything to help hurting people out of the well.
Graham Standish simply states that “humility is a way of life in which we [pastors] become consumed with seeking God’s direction rather than living purely according to our instincts, conditioning, and insights,” and St. Augustine is quoted as stating, “Should you ask me: What is the first thing in religion? I should reply: The first, second, and third thing therein is humility.” Remember my premise – healthy churches are led by humble pastors.
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Purpose-Driven Leader
A fantastic example of a humble leader is Pastor Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and the author of the bestselling book The Purpose Driven Life. It would be reasonable to expect that someone with his credentials might be less humble than he displays. His accomplishments are great and he has literally changed how churches function and, through his books, changed countless lives in a positive direction. Churches all over the world have participated in the various 40 Days programs which he began, so honestly, he has a right to be at least a little proud of the things he’s done. However, his published bio reads, “No socks. Loves Jesus. Mentors young leaders. Helps the sick and poor. Serves Saddleback. Encourages pastors. Wrote some books.” There is no mention of the magnitude of his impact on the church and the world, just simple phrases that say what he does and has done. Pastor Warren is a living example of a gifted pastor who has experienced how the attributes of the humility factor change the way you lead, and his church continues to benefit from his humble leadership style.
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Impact
When the humility factor is added to the leadership style of Humble, the humble pastor outcome is that the leader becomes a better version of themselves and, due to their broken spirit, resists the tendency to become proud of their humility. People may not realize exactly what draws them to their leader, but they will desire to be around them and follow their lead.
In the weeks to follow, we’ll take a close look at the other dishes on the leadership buffet.
Lead well. Lead humbly.