African Leadership Shaping Up with Modupe TAYLOR-PEARCE: Encouraging Leadership Growth
Tailored Transformation: A Story of Church Leadership
Ever wondered what a shift in leadership can bring? Let me spin a yarn about my buddy Nick, who went from a lukewarm churchgoer to an active participant. You might say it's faith, but it's also some darn good leadership!
Nick, a fellow I've known for eons, was a regular churchgoer during his university days, but things cooled off when he settled down in a new town with his wife. She attended a certain bible-believing church, and though Nick wasn't exactly enamored with the place, he went along since their little ones loved the Sunday School.
The Senior Pastor was a devout believer, but Nick felt that his lackadaisical approach to time management and insistence on imposing his schedule on the deacons, including Nick's wife, wasn't setting a good example of servant leadership. The deal-breaker, though, came when they lost Nick's father-in-law. Despite having ties to the church community, no one from the higher-ups paid a visit to express their condolences.
Nick wasn't thrilled, to put it mildly, but his wife stubbornly refused to switch churches. She argued that, given her father's death had occurred in a remote village far from their home, they might have been assumed unavailable to receive visitors.
"Nonsense!" Nick exclaimed. "I ain't setting foot in that church anymore!"
Still, he reluctantly continued to attend services, only bothering with Sunday mornings. He shied away from any church-related activities, and his complaints found their way into our conversations from time to time, as he felt stuck due to his wife's resistance to leaving.
But then, months passed, and Nick sprung a surprise on me during one of our video chats. He informed me that he'd have to depart our discussion at 5:30 to rush home and get ready for a midweek service at his church on a Wednesday! I double-checked, thinking I might've heard wrong.
"Attending church on a Wednesday?" I queried.
Nick chuckled before confirming that, yes, he was heading to midweek service at his wife's church.
"What caused this about-face?" I inquired a few days later.
Nick explainated, his voice brimming with glee, that a new Senior Pastor now preached at his church. This young chap, in Nick's eyes, entered the scene with a dynamic spirit of fellowship with the church members, a clear vision for the church, and committed to putting his teachings into practice. This Pastor started meetings on time, kept them on time, leaving Nick's wife with more moments to spend at home, as their meetings no longer lasted for hours.
"So, are you happy now at your church?" I ventured to ask.
"Darn right I am, mate!" Nick replied. "I've even signed up to help out in the audio-visual ministry and collaborate on some of the Pastor's presentation slides. It's something I can do remotely, and frankly, I'm digitally savvy and enjoy contributing."
I couldn't help but be amazed at the transformation. What made the new Senior Pastor resonate with Nick when the old one could not? What was the difference that flipped Nick from a passive member contributing the minimum to the church to an engaged member pouring extra effort into the congregation?
Though it's just one story, this scenario offers a handful of simple truths about good leadership or the ability to sway others positively. I've narrowed them down to three main areas, but remember, there's no exhaustive list here.
People appreciate feeling valued, and such care builds trust. The old Senior Pastor missed an opportunity when he didn't show support during a testing time for Nick and his family. The old adage holds true: "A friend in need is a friend indeed." As a leader, it's imperative to demonstrate empathy to foster trust and loyalty among your followers.
The new Pastor showed care by being approachable and listening to the church members. This attitude played a significant role in earning Nick's trust. As a leader, it's vital to make your followers feel valued and listened to, which will pave the way to successful influence.
People are more likely to follow when they understand your vision. While it's possible that the old Senior Pastor had a vision, the problem lay in the communication of this vision. As human beings, we tend to forget the big picture when daily tasks and triumphs consume us.
The new Senior Pastor articulated a clear-cut vision, ensuring its message reached every congregant, not just the leadership. Nick was hardly part of the church hierarchy yet understood the vision.
Lead by example, starting with yourself. Discipleship isn't just a biblical principle; it's a leadership principle. Leaders who develop their followers aim to foster leaders who can stand tall on their own. The term "disciple" stems from "discipline," but the old Senior Pastor seemed to forget that discipline begins with oneself.
The new Senior Pastor demonstrating self-discipline by adhering to time management became a motivating factor for Nick to engage more actively with the church. Leading by example, both in your personal and professional life, sets the stage for a community of disciplined and empowered followers.
There's a lesson to be gleaned from this church drama, whether you subscribe to the religious tenets or not. The principles of effective leadership transcend theological boundaries. Africa needs leaders who can cultivate followers into strong leaders, but will you, the African leader, rise to the occasion? Are you ready to hold yourself to the standards of the new Senior Pastor? Will you articulate your vision and empower your team? Will you lead yourself first before attempting to discipline others? Will you care enough to prioritize your follower's needs? When African leaders step up and commit to building a better future for their people, these simple and powerful actions can set the stage for an unparalleled era of prosperity and unity. Let's make Africa an extraordinary place for Africans by elevating our leadership game.
- Displaying strong leadership, the new Senior Pastor at Nick's church has influenced his opinion positively, demonstrating an effective approach to management through maintaining focus on time, clarifying vision, and setting an exemplary role.
- In the realm of business or beyond, Nigerian leaders can learn from the new Senior Pastor's leadership style and apply it to their industries, fostering growth, unity, and prosperity by valuing people, communicating vision effectively, leading by example, and prioritizing followers' needs.
