No one can lead all the time. Which means, quite often, we leaders are going to have to be followers.
Leaders are used to being out front. Taking a step back, or to the side at least, to let someone else lead can be difficult. But it’s an important part of self-leadership, and it’s something that I’ve valued in the strongest leaders I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years.
I’ve been trained in music since the third grade. One of the first things you learn in music is that whoever’s holding the baton is in charge. As a member of the U.S. Air Force Band, I had the opportunity to conduct my commander. Even though he out-ranked me, with that baton in my hand, he operated as if I was the leader.
When I was serving as a minister of education, my senior pastors supported the discipleship programs we put in place by promoting them from the pulpit, and by being in a small group themselves. Similarly, during Vacation Bible School, they spent time in each class during the week, because we knew the kids needed to see them sitting on the floor with them, or in a chair their size.
Good leaders know when to follow. They’re able to assess a situation and determine whether their particular strengths will contribute positively to the situation, and when they could possibly contaminate it. They know when to step forward, and when to sit back and let someone else do the leading.
At First Baptist Church, Bethalto, the last senior pastor I served with was excellent about leading the staff to take time away for retreats. His willingness to take time away from a busy church schedule showed us he wanted to hear from us, even when he wasn’t in charge of the agenda.
I generally was tasked with setting the meeting schedule, and for our first several retreats, he allowed me to emcee our meeting time. After a while, he took on more of a leadership role.
That’s another thing about good leaders: They know the value of learning from others.
Larry Rhodes served on staff at West Gate Baptist Church in Trenton, FBC Salem, and FBC Bethalto, where he retired in 2014 after 22 years. He is an IBSA zone consultant in Metro East St. Louis.