I've been thinking alot about leadership these days. How do you pick the right leader?
This list is not original with me, but it is helpful:
1. Character: It starts here. What is the person's character? Are they truthful? What are their temptations? Are they aggressive or passive? Are they empathetic or detached? You need different kinds of character traits for different kinds of jobs - are you aware of what you are looking for? If not, you will most likely hire a person you like who may have the wrong character for the job.
2. Chemistry: How well does a person get along with people? Even if he or she isn't a people person, have they developed the skills to do social interaction? How well will the person do with the team? And if you are to be the person's leader, can you relate to them and with them?
I've had to learn the hard way that there are great people out there that I, for whatever reason, can't lead very well. That's why God made lots of different churches and lots of different leaders.
3. Competency: Can the person do the job? Do they have the skill set that is needed? For example, one person might be very competent to lead adults, but that doesn't mean they would be competent to lead children. Do they have the right credentials? A man might be gifted with his hands, but that doesn't mean I want him to operate on me until he's been to Medical School!
4. Capacity: Can the person grow? Do they have a teachable spirit? Are they asking questions going in or are they acting like they have all the answers? If they act like they know all the answers, run!
Everyone has a limit. Some people can interact with lots of people; others, only a few. Does this person have the capacity to double the ministry reach (or whatever the job entails) of what you are asking them to lead?
5. Call: In Jim Collins book, Good to Great, he talks about leaders who have a passion for their work and their organization. The passionate leader makes all the difference in the world.
In Kingdom world, this is a sense of call. Our goal is to make sure that no one does a job at church "to fill a hole." We want people who are called to make a difference as an usher, a choir member, a two year old teacher, a BCG leader, a student ministry worker, etc.
The Five C's of picking a leader: Character, Chemistry, Competency, Capacity, Call.
