Leadership Formation

The gift of training new people in leadership

by Michelle Moran
President of ICCRS

1. Dynamic Leadership

A t a recent European gathering of leaders in Charismatic renewal it was noted that in many countries prayer groups seem to be on the decline. There are a number of reasons for this and not all of them are negative. In Great Britain , for example, many people whose faith was renewed through Charismatic renewal are now serving the Church in various ways through their parish communities or by ministering at Diocesan or National level. However one definite reason for so many God ordained projects not standing the test of time is the failure of those in leadership to pass on the mantle of leadership to others at the right time and in the right way.

It is impossible for any group to remain static. There is either a process of growth or one of decline. Undoubtedly, the most dangerous time for any group, community or movement is when they have become ‘established'. At this stage things are usually going well. However, there can be complacency and a tendency to fall into rigid institutionalism e.g. ‘we've always done it this way'. Eventually, the group becomes stifled, creativity is killed and leaders become stale and tired. These are all signs that a group has begun to decay and decline. In order to prevent this occurring it is important that groups are continually moving forward through a process of on-going vision development. Leadership is vital and good leaders will be frequently asking themselves what sort/style of leadership does our group need at this time? Just as groups and communities are always changing, leadership should reflect this by being dynamic and adapting to meet the needs of the group.

2. Passing on leadership

One of the essential qualities of a good leader is that they want to see other people's gifts and skills developed. They will be constantly looking at their group trying to recognise the gifts and release the untapped potential. A leader is a person of vision who is never content with the present reality however good that may be. They have eyes to see ‘what is' and vision to see ‘what could be'. Wise leaders invest time in mentoring and coaching others. They recognise that for sustained growth and longevity it is vital to bring new people into leadership and to raise up young leaders. Discernment is vital. The leader must constantly seek God's guidance and know when it is the right time to step aside and hand over responsibilities to others.

3. Training new leaders

It is important that those who do enter into leadership are given appropriate training and support. Some of this occurs in a natural unstructured way.

A leader influences others

Natural leaders are people of influence. They inspire respect and confidence and are good role models. The leader who is serious about raising up others will invest time in potential leaders. They will be willing to share their wisdom without giving the impression that theirs is the only way to do things. Therefore, leaders who wish to train others in this way need to be open and flexible.

A leader shapes people's behaviour

A Christian leader is always trying to change people through the power of the Holy Spirit. This may involve behavioural changes, thought patterns, attitudes or structural changes. On a personal level the goal is for all people to grow more Christ-like. Then at the structural level it is the responsibility of the leader to get God's people to the place where God wants them to be. Primarily a leader shapes and moulds others into godliness through the witness of their own lives . If an organisation is too hierarchical then leaders may become aloof from their groups. This obviously reduces their capacity for influence and witness. In a well balanced group, leaders have healthy and appropriate levels of integration.

Leaders inspire towards vision

A ny group which wants to stand the test of time needs to be involved in on-going vision development. This involves setting short and long term goals and regularly monitoring activities assessing and evaluating where appropriate. The group should also have in built systems of accountability which keep them focused on their vision. Leaders need to harness the energy of individuals and motivate them towards achieving their common goals. It is important that all the members of the group are aware of the overall vision and to a certain extent ‘buy' into it. However if the leader can invest quality time with potential leaders they can be instrumental in developing the vision and become trend setters. Vision motivates and energises so those who are directly involved will be prepared to give more and take on additional areas of responsibility.

Leaders enable others to fulfil their potential

Leaders do not do all the work of ministry but enable and equip others to be involved in ministry too. Delegation is a key skill in leadership. This doesn't mean that the leader abdicates or simply shares out the jobs. Effective delegation involves recognising a person's ability and potential and working alongside them in ways which will give them security and build their confidence. The more able or experienced a person is and the more they have bought into the vision the less supervision they will require. The overall aim in delegation is to empower others, releasing their gifts and potential. At this stage experienced leaders need the maturity and wisdom to know when it is right to step aside and let new leaders take over or share in the leadership.

Adapted from Catholic Charismatic Centre