Leadership--DBS

I recently had an experience with a group where the leadership of the group seemed disinterested and lacking.  That experience made me think about my own leadership style.  I developed an acronym that I committed myself to in terms of leadership for the rest of 2013.  The acronym is DBS.  I’m still working out these ideas in my own mind, but let me briefly share my thoughts as to how I understand DBS 

D—discerning.  I want everything I do to be a reflection of what God wants in my life.  I constantly want to ask myself the question, “What would God do in this situation?  How is God leading me?  How can I stay on the same page with God, not getting ahead or behind the Almighty?”  As Presbyterians we believe that our lives are not our own—they are God’s.  One of my favorite parts of the Book of Confessions is from the Heidelberg Confession, “That I belong—body and soul, in life and in death—not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”  Our task is not to come up with terrific ideas, but instead be attuned to the terrific ideas that God has for us.  When we discern well the pressure in our lives fades.

B—bold.  It seems to me that we in the church are way too timid in our leadership.  We take baby steps when God wants us to take giant leaps.  Let’s be bold!  Let’s take risks!  Let’s continue to understand that the church is a movement that was started by the boldest leader in the history of the world—Jesus.  If we aren’t doing something bold, then we are missing out on the leadership style that Jesus modeled.  The world is waiting for a group of people who are willing to be bold in a discerning way.

S—strategic.  Often in the church we feel like we lack resources—even though the gift of grace is the greatest gift the world has ever experienced.  When we lack something it’s important to focus our efforts.  We must ask ourselves the question, “where will our efforts lead to the most fruit?  What should I stop doing so that I can give more time to these efforts?”   Rick Warren wrote that leaders often have so many irons in the fire that we put out the fire.  Where do we have to focus our efforts in a strategic way?  A strategy is a focus that will best help achieve a goal.

I’m interested in your thoughts.  Send me your thoughts to pastor@colpres.org on this acronym and what you feel are some important qualities of leadership.