Effective Leaders

[Sarah]

Leadership capacity is something I did not understand for a long time. I believed that capacity was about discipline and determination alone and not actual limitations that are Biblical and healthy. As a result, I never stopped to ask myself “what is my leadership capacity” or “what is the capacity of those around me.” I have often been told I have a high leadership capacity; however, I think more often than not it is because I have pushed past my capacity into burnout in order to prove that to be true. The idea of a leadership capacity has been a very helpful thing for me to understand because it allows me to appreciate what I am able to give and what others are able to give in a healthy way without pushing each other’s boundaries or leading to disappointment because of false expectation. Nevertheless, I appreciate how Wes describes how to grow your leadership capacity where we can be honest about what we can handle, but we can continue to grow to take on more and increase our leadership ability.

[Caleb]

I think leadership capacity is something we don’t talk about enough. Biblically Jesus in calling all of us to be leaders, bringing the lost to Him. It is important to know that everyone is a leader, but it is also key to remember that nobody is perfect. some people may not have the capacity to be a great and strong leader to hundreds or thousands of people, and that is ok, maybe even a good thing. God is always going to push us to grow and excel in our contexts to be better ministers for him, but he is never going to send you in unprepared. That being said, with a reliance on the Holy Spirit we are able to lead well. If we aren’t ready for the step of leading in the hundreds or thousands, God isn’t going to push us or even want us to do that. we all have a personal capacity because everyone is different. We need to spend time with God to grow our capacity, taking time in devotions and worship. we need to dialogue with God, understand what he sees in us, and walk faithfully. a good practice is also to ask others how they might see God working in your life and listen to what others think you need to do to improve. Leadership is a gift I think God especially gives to all believers when we are saved. Our capacity grows with our mission.

[Kylie]

As someone who hates to admit they have limits, leadership capacity can be a hard thing to swallow. That being said it is important to look at our leadership skills and think, yes maybe I can lead 100 people but will I lead them as well as I would lead 10? I also believe some people are gifted to shoulder more or heavier leadership than others and thus for some 100 people feels hard but very much manageable where others stepping out and leading 10 will be already be challenging and that is okay. Both are equipped leaders but again have different capacities. I think it is always possible to increase you capacity as a leader especially if it is what God is calling you into. The first few steps I believe would be to ask the Lord to highlight areas of my life that need some work. I would also look at how I am currently leading myself and the capacity I currently lead and ask is this healthy? Am I being faithful and fruitful with what God has already given me? If I answer no to any of these questions obviously there is some work to be done to increase my capacity, if that is what He is asking of me.

[Karlena]

With the idea of Leadership Capacity, I think of Matthew 25.21 "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put in you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." Being faithful in our sphere of influence means the Lord often will choose to increase the sphere of influence. "Being faithful" implies seeking to be the best servant-leader possible and to recognize our dependence on the Holy Spirit as well as the need to learn and continue to grow from our experiences (and the experiences of others). Part of this process is having good mentors, seeking accountability, building relationships with others who can offer counsel, taking leadership courses, and setting time aside to rest, reflect, recharge, and pray. From me personally, increasing my own Leadership Capacity means learning more about how to help others increase their Leadership Capacity.