A few weeks ago Julian wrote this, “As a Leadership Coach in a great youth ministry in the UK I am really trying to develop my own thinking on so many issues but particularly the aspect of leadership development and why people don’t make it!”
I’ve been thinking a lot about this since then… why do leaders fail?
I have a few ideas, but I’m interested in hearing yours. Why do you think leaders fail?
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I have several ideas:
1. Pride. They reach a point and begin to believe it is about them and their abilities. They begin to take advantage of their position.
2. Lack of a support group. Ministry can be a lonely place. If the pastor doesn’t cultivate friendships or have a place where they can be completely honest, they begin to hold things in and sink deeper into their sins.
3. Self-protection. They feel they have to protect their image or reputation so they can’t be honest with their struggles.
Paul, on my own Blog back in December I posted something called the Pitfalls of Leadership from Henry Blackaby’s book Spiritual Leadership. In that Blog this is a little of what I had to say:
1. Pride
Pride tempts others to take the credit from others
Pride makes leaders unteachable
Pride causes leaders to think they are self-sufficient
Pride leads to loss of compassion
Pride makes leaders vulnerable
2. Sexual Sin
Safeguard # 1: Leaders, make yourselves accountable
Safeguard # 2: Leaders, heed your own counsel
Safeguard # 3: Leaders, consider the consequences
Safeguard # 4: Leaders, develop healthy habits
Safeguard # 5: Leaders, pray & ask others to pray for you
3. Cynicism
4. Greed
5. Mental Laziness
6. Oversensitivity
7. Spiritual Lethargy
8. Domestic Neglect
9. Administrative Carelessness
10. Prolonged Position Holding
Hi Paul! I have a few reasons why I think some leaders might fail. This would be coming from someone being “led” and not a leader.
I think if a leader lacks the ability to listen it can hurt them. If all a leader does is talk and never stops to listen, how does he/she know if what they have said is being heard and understood?
I also believe a leader has to be accessible to the people he’s leading. Whether it be a pastor making himself available not only during a service, but before and after or a CEO coming out of his/her plush corner office to see how the workers are doing, I think this is important in allowing the leader to establish a connection with the people he/she is trying to influence.
Just a few thoughts from one of those being led. Thanks for asking!
Couple more…
Disconnection–out of touch with those that they are leading,their thoughts, goals, needs, etc.–could be too “above” them, unable to relate, not listening, etc.
Own agenda–looking out for themselves and their own goals, needs
Lack of respect for those they are leading–not allowing delegation of responsibility, lack of respect for ideas and work
Just a couple of thoughts…
I’m a daughter of a leader that failed. From my perspective…
1. He’s not living out biblical convictions because he’s not drenched in the word and prayer.
2. A failure to keep priorities straight. An inability to say “no” to the good so that there’s time for the best.
3. Lack of accountability…ask for it. Don’t wait for someone to offer it. Don’t pull yourself up by your own spiritual boot straps. Swallow the pride.
You can’t lead if your not worth following.
I certainly believe that a person is responsible for their actions, but we should also look at the church culture around them.
Is the church culture allowing the pastor to really be themselves?
Is the culture allowing the pastor to be open and honest?
Are the expectations on the pastor reasonable?
As I said, the pastor is responsible for their actions, but having been a pastor I know the lonliness that is created because you are the “spiritual” leader. I know the unreasonable expectations to be and do everything. I know how pastors are often not allowed to be themselves.
These are just some additional thoughts.
I like Eric’s comments also–different perspective…does the church (or whatever group being led) allow the leader to lead? Or do the “followers” have their own agendas, ideas, pride, “issues”, etc. Have definitely seen leaders fail because of this too!(Honestly..think I might have been on both ends of it too..as leader and follower)
I believe leaders are under more spiritual attack than anyone else. If Im in battle I want to take out the leaders first, if Im playing chess I could care less about a pawn, I want the king and queen, if I can conquor the queen everyone else is in kaos. Satan himself went after Christ so why wouldnt he hit our spiritual leaders as hard…Phill
Pingback: The top five reasons why leaders fail « Paul Peterson
Dear Paul :
My pastor, Gregg Rustulka, forwarded to me “The Top Five Reasons Why Leaders Fail”. I liked your choices and comments. However, the number # one reason is
“They disconnect with Jesus on the inside”
Have a great day!
John
Leaders fail because they have never learned how to be a good servant. A good servant gets excited about helping someone else to become successful.