Leadership Development: Where Do I Begin?
by Dr. Matthew Larkin
The hardest part of any project, whether big or small, is knowing where to start. Whether starting a new ministry, planning a sermon series, or even … writing an article for the Advent Christian Witness, the hardest part is starting with that white piece of paper that seems to be staring right back at you. This can be the case with leadership development as well. We all want to help people learn to use their gifts for God’s glory, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Writing out a whole development plan for someone can be daunting. Desired outcomes can be hard to bring into focus. Trying to think too far down the road can make the whole endeavor seem like too much. So, when it comes to leadership development, as with any project, we must first address that ever present problem of that white piece of paper. We must answer the question: Where do I begin?
Leadership Development as Relational
To answer this question, there are two things that are important to know about leadership development in Christian perspective. First, it is important to understand that leadership development is a highly relational process. In fact, to look at leadership development as it takes place in Scripture, it can be seen throughout that the Bible presents a picture of a highly relational approach to developing leaders. This can be seen with Jesus and the twelve. It can also be seen with Paul and his ministry partners, with Timothy being the most notable. Scott Douglas says that in the case of Paul with Timothy, Paul assumed the role of “spiritual father.”((Scott M. Douglas, “Developing Leaders for Pastoral Ministry,” The Journal of Applied Christian Leadership 8, no. 2 (Fall 2014): 84.)) In the case of Jesus and his disciples, he observes that Jesus “teaches them and closely supervises them as they grow” and are empowered to “carry on the mission.”((Douglas, 85.)). And while Paul’s leadership development intentions are more clearly identifiable than those of Jesus, both show some intention toward developing their followers to lead and do so in a highly relational way.
Leadership Development as Formation
Second, it is important to note that leadership development, in Christian perspective, is inherently formational. It cannot be divorced from the broader pastoral task of Christian formation. Keith Krispin argues that Christian leader development begins in “spiritual and personal formation,” noting that such formation provides an “essential foundation for other development outcomes.”((Keith R. Krispin Jr., “Christian Leader Development: An Outcomes Framework,” Christian Education Journal 17, no. 1 (April 2020): 26.)) This foundation is then furthered by the “cultivation of leadership specific skills and competencies.”((Krispin, 26.)) With this in mind, leadership development is not only a process of teaching people how to do the job. In fact, when developing Christian leaders, it is important to understand that leadership is much more about who a person is than what they can do. It’s about character. It’s about spiritual maturity. Yes, it is about skills. But it is about so much more.
Where Do I Begin?
This returns us to our original inquiry: I want to develop leaders, but where do I begin? Well … if leadership development is: (1) a relational process and (2) a formational process, it must be approached as we would approach discipleship. It can begin with a meal. It can begin with a conversation after Sunday morning worship. It can begin very informally. However, after that initial “ice breaking” conversation, you may still be asking that same looming question: Where do I begin?
This is where intentionality comes in. This is because leadership development is not just about relationship. It is also about intentionally forming a leader so they may grow and learn, becoming equipped for whatever God has called them to. After that initial conversation, identify a useful resource that could serve as a catalyst to both relationship and formation. This could be a book, podcast, conference or seminar. Choose something you can do together. From there, it is just a matter of using that resource in conjunction with intentional time in the Scriptures and prayer to spark conversation and eventual formation. While there may be several more steps along the way, leadership development can begin as simply as that.
Dr. Matthew Larkin, “Leadership Development: Where Do I Begin?” The Advent Christian Witness, Winter 2024.