Just because you’re a leader, doesn’t mean you need to dominate everything. In fact, good leaders are bold enough to step aside and let others take control. They do not abdicate their God-given role of leader. Instead, they lead by allowing others to accept greater responsibility. Leaders sometimes need to give up center stage.

What does it mean to give up center stage? Basically, giving up center stage involves letting others ascend to positions of leadership and ability. Here are three areas in which you can improve your leadership by letting others lead.

1. Realize when someone has a better idea or a superior skill set. Leadership is about humility. If one thing is clear from the life of Christ, humility and service comprise the leader’s greatest assets. So what does this mean when you encounter someone in your organization who is smarter, more capable, and maybe even more experience than you are? Respond with humility. Realize their gifts, and let the person use them to benefit the church.
2. Put high-potential individuals into places of responsibility. The best way to improve someone’s leadership abilities is to put them in a situation of responsibility. A budding leader under your care won’t improve just by watching you, skilled as you may be. Instead, he or she will improve by actually getting involved in leadership. You can start small — overseeing cleanup at the church picnic, for example — but the level of responsibility will grow with increased experience.
3. Lead by stepping aside, not by disappearing. The true leader uses every opportunity possible to grow other leaders. When a leader does so, however, he’s not disappearing from the scene entirely. He’s helping, guiding, and mentoring. He may not be appearing in the limelight, but he is still there, helping as needed.

It’s not easy to give up center stage. We leaders love the limelight. But sometimes, the best way to go forward is by stepping backward — out of the spotlight.

Are churches prepared to accept all kinds of help and participation? Are we poised to use various types of personalities, dispositions, and temperaments in ministry contexts? If the church really is a collection of people characterized by unity and love, is it possible to use even the misfit-types in ministry?

There is a wide variety of people in the church. As we seek to work together and get involved in ministry together, there are three important things we should keep in mind.

1. Everyone can and should get involved in ministering. There are no socioeconomic standards for joining churches. There are no etiquette tests or relationship skills training. There are probably a few people in the church who just don’t seem to fit. Maybe they are shy and quiet. Maybe they smell bad. Maybe they don’t know how to iron their clothes. Whatever. Regardless, every believer should have an opportunity to minister. Not every form of ministry requires an extroverted personality with polish and charm. As a church leader, look for ministry opportunities that match the person — any type of person.
2. Everyone can and should grow. In addition to being involved, each person should be prepared to grow. The church is a context where interaction with others, the Word, and the Spirit, leads to dynamic life change. Sin habits must be rooted out. If someone has a prickly personality or a harmful idiosyncrasy, these issues can be gently addressed and worked on.
3. Everyone can and should accept others. You’re not going to like everyone in your church. That’s okay. Christian love does not necessitate warm-and-fuzzy feelings toward everyone else. Love is an attribute that may, in fact, just require you to be patient with annoying people (1 Corinthians 13:4). The church is a place of acceptance—even accepting those people that you don’t click with.

In order to truly reflect the church modelled in Scripture, we should accept the diversity of people into church life, and expect sanctification to follow. Getting involved in ministry isn’t the job of a select few. Ministry in some form or another is the life of the church as a whole.

Oceans of ink have been spilled on the subject of “finding God’s will.” Christian seminars and elective Sunday School classes on “Discovering God’s Will” are usually packed out. The theme of discovering God’s will is a hot topic indeed. Although the process of “finding God’s will” has often been described in six-steps (or twenty) and requires a lot of discussion, there is a simplicity to it all. God’s will is revealed in the Bible. One of the clearest statements of God’s will instructs us to do something that may, at first glance, be surprising.

In 1 Thessalonians, we read a letter that was written by Saint Paul to a group of Christians. These Christians may have been servants, merchants, tradesmen, housewives, bricklayers, or had any variety of roles and occupations. What they had in common was a passion for Christ’s Kingdom and an anticipation of Christ’s return. What they needed was a perspective on the present that helped them understand how to live. In short, they needed to know God’s will for their lives. (Don’t we all?)

Towards the end of the letter, we read this sentence:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

There’s that phrase — “this is God’s will.” What, precisely, is God’s will? If we find out what God’s will was for the Thessalonians, maybe we can get a glimpse as to what God’s will is for our own life.

Let’s take it phrase, by phrase, starting with the last and working backwards.

1. God’s will is for you to be thankful. The previous phrase says “give thanks in all circumstances.” Hold on. “Give thanks?!” That’s God’s will for my life. You were looking for something a bit bigger, better, or more refined, right? Maybe “be a missionary,” or “glorify God at all times.” Those things are great, but “give thanks?” Really, is that all? It’s pretty plain. God’s will is that you have gratitude in all circumstances, even when you don’t feel that your particular situation merits that much thankfulness. Gratitude is God’s will for you. But there’s more.
2. God’s will is for you to pray continually. Christians know this verse well, probably because it is so short  and because it is somewhat vexing. Pray continually? That’s kind of hard. I don’t know about you, but when I’m sleeping, I’m sleeping, not praying. What’s this all about?  The statement means to be in a constant state of prayer. You may not consciously be asking God for things, or praising God, but you are in a prayer-ready condition. That’s God’s will. Prayer. To live in God’s will is to live in a state where you are praying regularly, frequently, and persistently. If you think about it, this is the only way to live in line with God’s will. If you are constantly communing with God, you are probably making fewer selfish and distracting decisions. You are living in line with God’s will.
3. God’s will for you is to rejoice always. The Bible always commands joy. It seems a bit counterintuitive. In our experience, being joyful is something that happens, not something that we can turn on by command. Biblical joy, of course, isn’t just happiness predicated on experience. It’s a reality rooted in our nature as people redeemed by God. God wants us to be joyful. It’s his will. Living in God’s will is a life of joy.

To sum up, then, God’s will is that you be joyful, praying, and thankful. But what about your career move, your life direction, your choice of a marriage partner, your business venture, and your choice of a home? Follow these three simple commands, and the rest will fall into place.

God’s will is for you to live a life that is totally connected to him — praying, thanking, and rejoicing. We all long to have a life of fulfillment. Here in this passage is the way to accomplish that kind of life. Perhaps finding God’s will isn’t so complicated after all.

In thousands of churches all across the world, worship leaders take center stage on Sunday morning. From the orchestra-conducting arm-waving song leaders, to the skinny-jean wearing, Christian tattoo-emblazoned guitarists, worship leaders take a variety of forms. The purpose is the same — to lead in worship. Here is some thoughtful advice for worship leaders.

1. Make worship your priority, not artistic perfection. We’ve become used to the fact that the “worship leader” is usually the most musical person around. They play the guitar, sing really well, and so they lead worship. The focus of worship, however is not the music, but the worship. Worship is more than music. As you lead in worship, keep in mind that the whole goal of your appearance in front of people is not to showcase your mad guitar skills, but to aid in corporate worship of the living God. You’re a worship leader. The emphasis is on worship.
2. It’s worship, not charades. Don’t ask people to perform certain routines like clapping, reaching, jumping, hands in the air, etc. You may have a certain idea of what good worship is all about, but it is not necessary to push people to do certain things or behave in certain ways. Sometimes, a demand that people “jump, jump, jump for the Lord” feels more awkward than it does worshipful.
3. Be sensitive to those who are sensitive to loud volume. One of the most common complaints about worship is that it’s too loud. Your church may have a certain culture and feel in worship. Loud music may be part of that. Just be careful. Some of us have tender vestibular systems.
4. Keep the dancing to a minimum. You may be the kind of person who loves to move with the music. There may be a place for worshipful dancing. As you guide people in worship, however, it may be best to limit your onstage movement. Your bouncing up and down may become a visual distraction.
5. Know what’s going to happen next. Because worship music is a team effort, it requires practice. Don’t climb up on the stage for worship expecting to wing it, or “let the Spirit lead.” Focus on order, and make sure everyone is on the same page. Mistakes will happen, but try to discourage that potential as much as you can. Practicing beforehand and knowing the order of service will help in that regard.
6. Pray for your ministry. If you remember just one of these tips, let it be this one:  pray. Pray before worship. Pray during worship. Pray after worship. Bathe your ministry in prayer. Ask God for his guidance. Plead with God for his mercy. Pray, pray, pray.
7. Lead in worship, don’t showcase your own worship. Worship leaders often engage in spontaneous and heartfelt prayers in between songs, or speak phrases of affection and praise to God. Remember that you are leading in corporate worship — expressing the mutual prayer of the congregation. Your role is to help lead the church into worship. You’re not a worship display. You’re a worship leader.
8. Keep your eyes open. Are you an eye-closing kind of worship leader? Keep your eyes open as much as possible. It will help you and others as you worship together.
9. Be purposeful. Purposeful worship means that you focus upon praising God, and eliminate any distractions or waste of time. If you speak while leading worship, make sure that what you say is worth listening to. Avoid criticizing people for their lack of emotion or energy during worship. You have a single intention. Prayerfully focus on it.

Worship is important. Just read a few chapters from the Old Testament to see the priority God places upon right worship. You have an significant role; engage it with energy, reverence, and awe for your great God.

Let’s get one thing straight. Complacency is a killer. That smug sense of satisfaction, the settled sense of security with the status quo — this complacency — is a really bad deal. A.W. Tozer said, “Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.” He’s right. How do you know that this killer has crept into your ministry?

1. You depend on tradition. Tradition is more than the wearing of robes, the reciting of creeds, and the carrying of candles. Tradition is something that can pervade just about any church, high church or not. When we depend on tradition, we stop depending upon something else — the Bible and the Spirit. When that happens, we’re on a rapid descent to destruction.
2. You tolerate sin (but it’s just the little ones of course). Sin is sin. And it’s bad. Don’t tolerate it. The church is to be a place of healing for sinners, but a Holy God doesn’t wink at iniquity. He sent His son to die for that iniquity. That’s the only reason the church welcomes sinners; because by God’s grace, sinners are reborn. Do not tolerate sin in your own life. Exercise church discipline upon unrepentant churchgoers who cling to sin. Preach against sin. The sad thing is, those “little” sins often lead to bigger ones. Letting a few things slip leads to bigger coverups. It is beyond tragic when the church becomes a cover for rapists, thieves, and child molesters.
3. You see no fruit. When Jesus cursed a fig tree for its failure to produce fruit (Mark 11:12-14), he gave us a sobering lesson. Empty religiosity, devoid of fruit, needs to die. The parable of the fig tree doesn’t end with a with Jesus’ withering curse. The very next verse tells us that Jesus walked into the temple and began to dump the piggybanks and kick over the chairs of the animal sellers. The spiritual complacency of these religious people had reached the place where they were letting animals defecate in the temple precinct, swindling the poor travelers who were coming to sacrifice, and making a total mockery of the entire event. If Jesus walked into your church, what signs of complacency would he need to root up and throw out?  If your ministry is marked by a total lack of fruit, beware. Obviously, there are seasons in which fruit may not be forthcoming, but longterm barrenness is a real problem.
4. You’re not pursuing spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is marked by an aggressive pursuit of God. We desire his fellowship, his people, and his word. A life that lacks prayer, Bible intake, and neglect of spiritual nourishment is a life that has slipped into complacency. It is a dangerous place.
5. You focus inwardly, not outwardly. One of the surest signs of complacency is spiritual navel-gazing. A church that is self-absorbed is not a true church. Why? Because they are neglecting the very mission of the church — the mission to spread the good news and make disciples (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). When a church is absorbed with just its own activities, its own problems, and its own people, it has become complacent.

“Security is mortals’ greatest enemy,” wrote C.S. Lewis. But what kind of “security” are we talking about here? Complacency makes us feel secure, but feelings can lie. When security rots into complacency, and complacency eats into our soul, we are in grave danger. This is spiritual warfare, and we must wage the fight against complacency.

You’ve probably heard the quote by William Carey, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” Are Christians really doing “great things” though? Are we actually attempting massive undertakings and big kingdom efforts? It seems not. Many Christians are living the risk-free, safety-zone life, bunker-mentality life — refusing to reach out in courage and boldness do greater things. Why?

1. You’re afraid. Fear is a ruthless killer. It grabs our goals and drives them into the ground. It clutches our God-driven dreams, and chokes them to death. It kicks aside our attempts, and breathes fire on our efforts. Fear is our enemy. We read in 1 Timothy 1:7 that fear doesn’t fit on the top-ten list of Christian virtues. Fear does not come from God. When we refuse to attempt great things for God, we are often living in the very condition that we are supposed to be delivered from:  fear. We’re afraid of failure. Afraid of being embarrassed. Afraid of loss. Afraid of getting schooled. It’s time to restore our grip on the fearlessness that God gives us, and move ahead.
2. You’re lazy. Attempting big things sounds like hard work. Let’s face it. Many of us are averse to hard work. There is nothing that appeals to us less than the brain-taxing, body-pounding work of some huge undertaking. Laziness is selfishness, and there is no room for laziness in God’s servants. By God’s grace, cast off the laziness, roll up your sleeves, and get to work.
3. You’re too content with the status quo. Christian contentment is good, but contentment with mediocrity is just plain wrong. If you’re content with merely fulfilling what’s expected, and attempting nothing more, you’re wasting your life. God’s vision is far greater. Once you catch God’s vision (see Matthew 28:18-20) perhaps you will be motivated to dream bigger, work harder, take risks, and attempt great things for God. Your present status isn’t enough. There’s more.
4. You’re consumed with self. “Great things” usually involve some form of sacrifice. Maybe we’re simply too consumed with our materialism that we don’t attempt those great things. We have our comforts, and doing great things for God is going to cause an uncomfortable disruption. Or maybe it’s deeper than all of that. Perhaps you’re staring inward for the resolve and resources to do great things. If that’s the case, you’re sure to come up empty. Attempting great things for God, as Carey’s aphorism states, comes from expecting great things from God. You’re not the source of these great things. God is. He has limitless resources, unbridled power, and far more wisdom than you do. Rely on him, and attempt these great things in his name.

If these are the four enemies to doing greater things for God, your way ahead is obvious. Slay the enemies to progress, and move boldly ahead in God’s will. He has the resources. He has chosen you. The battle is on. Let’s march.

Leaders are called to be out in front. One mark of a true leader is that he or she accepts this fact. There are some would-be leaders who crave being out in front for the attention that they will receive. That’s not leadership. That’s pride. True leaders understand that being out in front is a scary, vulnerable, and difficult place. Nonetheless, being out in front is the only way to really lead. There are four realities that you’ll face as a leader out in front.

Reality #1:  Being in front can be a scary place.

This whole being-out-in-front thing can be unnerving. It’s like the jittery feeling you get before speaking in front of a large audience. Or it’s like leading the way down a dark, treacherous forest path. Whatever the analogy, the feelings are the same:  fear, inadequacy, and sometimes downright terror. There is no shame in feeling fear. True bravery is not the absence of fear, but doing the right thing in spite of your fear. As 2 Timothy 1:7 explains, Christians are possessed of a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, not fear. God knows your fears, and he gives you the gift of power. Go ahead, stand in front, and lead.

Reality #2:  Leadership from behind isn’t leadership. It’s herding.

Leaders aren’t behind people, pushing them forward. That may work for cattle, but it doesn’t work for people. In order to be a leader, you’ve got to be in front. If you are attempting to push people, to coerce people, or to shove to get your way, something’s not right. It’s time to examine your leadership and perhaps move up to the front, the position of true leaders.

Reality #3:  ”When you get kicked in the rear, you know you’re out in front.”

John Maxwell’s humorous quip is so true. The leader — the one who is out in front — takes a lot of flak. It doesn’t matter what you’re deciding, who you’re leading, or how good you are at it. Someone’s going to gripe and give you a hard time. Take it with patience and gentleness. It comes with the territory of being out in front.

Reality #4:  Being in front is an act of humility, not a position of arrogance.

When you think of it, this in-the-front position is not where egoists go to get their fix. It’s where servants go in obedience. Leaders are to be servants, as Christ explicitly stated. As such, the leader’s position in front is simply his or her place of service. The leader who jostles and elbows his way to the front of the pack isn’t leading at all. He’s on a power trip, and he will soon fall. True leaders lead by being in front because that is where they’ve been called to serve.

Are you supposed to be in front?

Distractions can kill you. Ever heard of texting and driving? In the broader realm of life and leadership, distractions can also be fatal. Distractions produce death by degrees, slowly consuming your vocation, biting away at your calling, and destroying your effectiveness.

Crossleadership interviewee Dodd Caldwell recently stated that the biggest challenge facing leaders today is distraction:

“It’s easy to lose focus of what’s important and spend our time and energy on temporal things. At a certain point you have to filter out what’s important from all the noise and focus on what God has laid in front of you to do.

He’s right. Distraction by inessentials is a dreadful waste of one’s life. How, then, do we destroy our distractions?

1. Identify Your Distractions. You cannot stage an attack unless you first identify your enemy. Stop for a minute, and think:  What are your distractions? Many of us our distracted by the continually vibrating iPhone—a text message, someone commenting on our Facebook status, or an update that you got new jewels in InsaneBejweledWasteOfTime app. Obviously, those are distractions, but there may be other distractions that worm their way into your day. What about the large chunks of time? Working on a project that you should delegate to someone else? Watching too many movies, sports events, or TV programs? Devoting excessive time to a hobby or pastime? There is nothing inherently wrong with hobbies, and movies and playing Bejeweled, but these activities, like everything else, must find their rightful place. If you are devoting too much time to them, you must recognize their true nature as distractions.
2. Focus on Your Priorities. One major way to destroy your distraction is to focus on your mission and priorities. When you outline your month’s, week’s or, day’s goals, it’s easier to eliminate the distractions from creeping into your schedule. If you’ve never tried it before, now is the time to actually write down goals for each day. Before you begin working, just pull out a piece of paper and write down the three or four things you need to accomplish in the day. Keeping focused on the priorities will help to pull you out of the tailspin of distractions.
3. Block Your Distractions. You may simply need to place barriers to your distractions. I know of people who install programs on their computer that prevent them from accessing Facebook or Twitter. They’ve realized that they while away little minutes on social media, totally ruining their productivity. You may need to do the same. If you’re habitually spending hours in front of the TV each evening, do something radical. Sell your TV. Unplug it and stash it in the closet. Ask your friend or spouse to keep you accountable. Do something, but by all means do not allow the distraction to persist.
4. Replace Your Distractions. As helpful as it is to apply the ax to your distractions, this isn’t always realistic or possible. There is a better way. You’ve got to replace your distractions. Got an addiction to reading Marvel comics when you’re supposed to be preparing for Sunday’s sermon? The solution is simple. Instead of scoping out Marvel comics, pick up a theological book that applies to your sermon. Train your mind, eye, and hand to reach for Theology rather than Marvel. Replacement is the solution for time-draining distractions.
5. Live in the Moment. Missionary martyr Jim Elliot said  “Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” You have no idea how much longer you have on earth. To live in energetic and all-consuming focus on your calling is important. Don’t neglect family. Don’t neglect your vocation and calling. Don’t neglect people. Instead, declare a resounding “no” to the things that distract you from what’s truly important.” Live in the moment of ever day, and ask God for the focus to keep on task.

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, gives us a clear statement of Christ-focused, distraction-defying living:  ”But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.”

1. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?

Distraction. With Twitter, Facebook, Inboxes and everything else digital that leaders face today, it’s easy to lose focus of what’s important and spend our time and energy on temporal things. At a certain point you have to filter out what’s important from all the noise and focus on what God has laid in front of you to do.

2. What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?

The ability to treat others as you would have them treat you – even in the face of making tough business decisions.

3. Have you felt burned out and ready to quit? How did you overcome?

Feeling burned out usually inspires me to pray more than normal. So I do that. I’ve also found that traveling and serving in the developing countries that we work in helps keep things in perspective.

4. What habit have you implemented that you feel has drastically altered your life?

Daily production and creation. I believe that God designed us to be creators, not just consumers. In today’s culture, it’s very easy to get sucked into lives of consumption – watching TV, reading blogs, Facebook, etc. I try to spend at least part of my day creating something. Many days that means writing short stories.

 5. If you could encourage pastors and Christian leaders around the world, what would you say to them?

In Andy Stanley’s book, Visioneering, he quotes Nehemiah. Everyone was trying to scare and distract Nehemiah from doing what the Lord had planned for him. Nehemiah was up on the wall, rebuilding it, and they were trying to get him to come down to discuss things with him. He replied, “I cannot come down because I am doing a great work.” I’d encourage leaders to remember that quote whenever they get distracted by things that aren’t on-vision.

About Dodd Caldwell
If you’re around him for more than a minute, you’ll know that Dodd “LOVES” Rice Bowls. Not necessarily the plastic object, but the people he works with, the children he helps, and the orphanage directors he serves. He counts it a privilege to lead the Rice Bowls team state-side and to work with Rice Bowls’ orphanage partners overseas. His vision is to see each one of our children loved, led, instructed, protected, and provided for. And his hope is that one day these amazing little ones will become Christ-like leaders where they live. He sees children as the world’s greatest natural resource and loves the time he gets to spend with them.

About Rice Bowls

Rice Bowls provides much needed meals to great kids around the world through partnerships with Christian orphanages. Thanks to the support of incredible organizations and individuals in the US, Rice Bowls provides every single meal to over 1,500 children, in 52 homes, in 8 different countries every single day. It’s Rice Bowls’ desire that these orphaned children will grow up to be Christ-like leaders in their communities.

Too often, leaders hold high expectations — both for themselves and for those around them. Expectations that are set too high often lead to disappointment and frustration. This kind of friction is never healthy for an organization or for the leader. Sometimes, leaders need to lower their expectations.

Why Should We Lower Our Expectations?

Lowered expectations?! This sounds like a step backwards in leadership, not a step forward. Here’s the rub. Take stock of your expectations. What do your expectations often have in common? They are expectations of personal fulfillment (selfishness), rather than others-focused fulfillment (service).

If leadership is servanthood, which is the way that the Bible describes it, then our expectations of people should center around how we can serve them not the other way around.

To illustrate, think about a marriage relationship. The husband, Bob, is excited about getting married. His bride, Betty, is attractive, talented, smart, and charming. A few months into the marriage, however, Bob is disappointed. He expected from Betty a constant romantic sizzle, consistently delicious meals, never a snide remark or careless comment, a high level of charm, and for Betty to always be looking her best. Bob’s expectations were high. But Bob’s expectations were also extremely self-focused. His marriage expectations — an impossible burden for Betty to bear — were all about himself, his satisfaction, his appetites, and his happiness. In this fictional marriage illustration, selfish expectations began to breed a spirit of frustration, contempt, and eventual failure.

Analyze Your Expectations

The same thing can happen in leadership. You expect to lead people who are motivated, creative, willing to follow, helpful, kind, and cheerful. You expect that your team will help you achieve your expectations of a huge world-changing organization. You expect your people to follow through on tasks with punctuality, thoroughness, and perfection. Fair enough. But where’s the allowance for failure? Where is the concession that perhaps they may not achieve? Where is the understanding for challenging times, personal discouragement, and inconsistent behavior?

Take stock of your expectations, and find out if they are truly others-focused, or if they are self-focused. It will make a huge difference in the way you lead.

What Happens to Your Expectations Now?

The concept of lowering one’s expectations goes against the grain of most leadership advice. Leaders are encouraged to have high expectations and to aim for the sky. Motivational psychologist declare that the only way to push people to a higher level is to have high expectations of them.

All of this may be true. When we take a realistic look at human nature and the challenges of daily life, there is a certain way in which lowered expectations can become an advantage to our leadership. Here is how to do it.

1. Lower your expectations, without losing your hope in people.
2. Lower your expectations, without decreasing your encouragement of people
3. Lower your expectations, without giving up your respect for people.

Christian leaders can maintain high expectations as they pray with confidence for their personal success and the progress and growth of those whom they lead. Our God is all-powerful. In any relationship, however, lowering our expectations of the other person may be a powerful way to succeed.