Leadership

So, it has been a hiatus--the facts of the hiatus are mostly that the creativity was sucked out of me by my hubby being unemployed since April. He is still in that state, but I've come out of my depression about it and have started to be me again. He is not his job (or lack there of) and I am not mine and we are working through it all.


Had a wonderful workshop at church today--where we asked of ourselves what we expected from our minister, and other things. But the question I left with was, what can I do to help my new minister?


I left thinking about leadership and what it is to come into a new place as a leader. To be in a leadership role without knowing the ins and outs of the organization around you. In a new job, I have found myself in this place. The roles of minister or manager are different, but leadership in general can leap across many titles.




When I think of a good leader, I think of someone that helps you to become a better self, a more complete person in your role (human being, employee, whatever); someone who orchestrates and directs and keeps things on the track. A leader will help the group identify goals and how they want to reach them. The leader identifies the skills of members of the group and moves them into positions so that those skills are maximized.




In order for a leader to be successful, they need to be observant, listen and mediate. They need to assert an opinion when the group needs direction, but not create of culture of blind following. They need to be the interpreter. I have found that the leader's job is greatly assisted by people who volunteer to articulate their skills and volunteer the use of those skills without coaxing.


With that being said, what skills do I have to offer to my community or to my fellowship? I am musical, and love to be a part of choirs and such. But I am badly out of practice and my ear and range are very rusty. I have a nice work schedule that leaves me with evenings and weekends free--so I can show up and help at events. I used to be an event planner and have MC'd weddings--so I can both keep things on a timeline and dress a table fabulously. I'm not afraid of public speaking and spent many years in sales--so I can relate to many people and keep a conversation going. I am trained as an accountant and have touched lots of other people's money and have never taken a dime. How are those things useful to the congregation? I don't know yet.