Every once in a while you pick up a book that rattles your thinking on a subject. "Leaders at All Levels" by Ram Charan is one of those. I loved his book "Leadership Pipeline", and I'm loving this one.
A couple of early quotes:
"There's no shortage of raw talent. Businesses (churches) could fill the leadership vacuum from their internal rank if they knew how to spot and develop their real potential leaders. But they don't…"
"Not everyone can become a leader. Leaders are different from everyone else in ways that no amount of classroom instruction can supply."
"Sometimes bringing in outside talent is the best solution to deeply embedded corporate (church) problems. More often it is the only solution because the company (church) has failed to produce the leaders it needs."
My thought: Most churches talk leadership, hold leadership conferences, drink the leadership coolaid…but when they need crucial new leaders, they recruit them from other churches.
Agree/Disagree?
anecdotal evidence says “yes”. I could name names. but look at the top 100 ____ churches and see if they don’t have hired guns at the top.
however at one point someone recognized and developed them. right? so what made them jump ship?
I agree I suck at developing leaders from within.
I guess this needs to be on my read list. develop and retain great leaders is my challenge.
Comment by dave Anderson — December 16, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
I SO FREAKIN’ AGREE!
Comment by Jimmy — December 16, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Agree.
After visiting Sea Coast this fall I would have to say you guys have the most comprehensive plan I've ever seen for developing leaders from within.
I hope to model something similar here at Cross Point.
Greg, you need to write a book on this topic!
Comment by Pete Wilson — December 16, 2008 @ 10:35 am
agree! i have had offers or interest expressed from pretty much every "big leadership" church in the country (except willow). not quite sure why that is.
Comment by you can see my email — December 16, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Dave: Good question…as leaders we have an environmental responsibility…make it hard to jump ship.
Pete: Got to figure out how to transfer it from head to pages.
Ann: Would you like to come work for us : )
Comment by Greg Surratt — December 16, 2008 @ 10:59 am
I certainly brought my own set of talents (God-given), but have been a leader developed from within the Seacoast walls. What I want to know is: When are they going to start burnin’ up my phone to hire me out? and what kind of deal am I looking for? What I am saying is I believe Seacoast is doing a great job of mentoring leaders from within, with myself as an example. I guess I need to work on that humility thing, maybe next year. Be warned: A “Seacoast-trained leader” is going to be a hot commodity in the church/commerce world.
Trish Solito
Children’s Ministry Director
Seacoast Irmo
Comment by Tricia Solito — December 16, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
pete pays me seven figures and gives me 45 weeks off. can you top that?
Comment by anne-non-y-mous — December 16, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Good point Greg. Greg, as you know at Seacoast, spotting leadership potential is the first step. The big deal is staying with the development deal and not just playing catch and release. Paul said "I am again in labor until Christ be formed in you"(Gal 4:19). That is the arena we need to stay with and develop until we are seeing people shaped for God's role of leadership. It takes time, effort and tears along the way and a committment to the vision of Jeremiah 18:4 of God shaping and making us into the vessels that please Him. That is the good part and it has been the best way for us at Seacoast to see leaders emerge out of the internal potter's wheel!
Comment by Ron Hamilton — December 16, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Good thought Greg. I know of one mega-church where most of their leadership was hired from the outside. I don't know how you can have a consistent DNA if that is your strategy. New blood every once in awhile is good, but replacing yourself with developed leaders should be the goal.
Comment by Chris Surratt — December 16, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
Based on the strong and very effective influence of the Surratt family in Seacoast leadership, one could argue that leadership ability may be genetic.
Comment by Hank Osborne — December 16, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
I'd agree that the majority of churches do go outside…and I think it is because there is no "intentional" development of leaders…I also think that those others jump ship because of the same.
Comment by Jason Curlee — December 17, 2008 @ 6:32 pm