Leadership Development: Mountains or Staircases?

Do you use the “mountain method” or “staircase method” to leadership development? Growing the next generation of leaders is essential to your continued growth and the growth of your church. Without leadership development, you’ll end up doing the same thing the rest of your life, or until you get sick of it and quit. Either way, it isn’t a healthy approach.

The Mountain Method

If you don’t have a specific plan for leadership growth, or if your plan is filled with large obstacles to be scaled by only the most capable, you are using the mountain method. This method can be further identified by the following criteria:

1. You require more “gear” from your future leaders (skills, talents, time)
2. You spend more time trying to find future leaders than training them
3. You require more commitment from your future leaders (years, not weeks or months)
4. You often see leaders trip and fall from the “mountain” and never try it again

While I agree that it takes a special set of skills and habits to find a really good leader, there are quite a few left at the base of the mountain. That is where the staircase method may help you.

The Staircase Method

The staircase method, however, provides a simple path with easy steps along the way that enable a leader to grow over time. You will see an increased number of potential leaders ascending the staircase with you, rather than staying at the bottom of the mountain waiting for the right gear, training, or self commitment. This method:

1. Requires far less gear from your leaders (less skills, less talent, less time)
2. You spend more time training potential leaders to determine where each one can add value to your church/team
3. You require less commitment, creating more opportunities to find and engage future leaders
4. If leaders trip and fall, they can pick themselves up and start ascending again

Much different, isn’t it? What might your team or church look like if you were spending more time training a larger pool of leaders than searching for the one or two leaders in your church that have those “perfect” skills? How will you find ways to create opportunities for future leaders to start ascending the stairs today rather than preparing to climb the mountain?

[tags]church leadership, volunteer leadership, leadership training, leadership[/tags]

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