Leadership 1

Leadership is so varied in November of 2012.  With Election 2012 fresh in our experience we are responding to our preception of what happened.  Leadership is so subjective that whether it is good are not is dependent on each individual.  So, what one person approved of is rejected by another.  Such is the nature of leadership.

My idea of leadership is that I establish a compelling direction, align people according to the compelling direction, and inspire and motivate them to achieve the compelling direction.  That is my primary goal as the Elder of New Life United Methodist Church.  There will be two sources for my compelling direction:  The Bible and The Discipline of the United Methodist Church.  These were the wishes of the founding members and included in the Deed of NLUMC. 

As the Elder, the leader of NLUMC, I am aware that not all leaders are suited for all situations and that as the leader that I have to adapt a style of leadership that fits the specific circumstances in which I find myself in leadership.  Sometimes as a leader I become a follower so that leaders can be trained or encouraged. 

As the Elder I recognize that NLUMC will resist change because change is so threatening to peoples' stability and security.  For the threat to be minimized and the security to be assured as the change happens, a compelling direction that encourages the stretching of comfort zones to include change
and thereby growth.  This compelling direction will be inspired by the Holy Spirit and implemented in Holy Love.  The change must initially be small and manageable to eliminate fear, but be continually moving in the direction that fulfills the vision, the goals, and plans that will bring the compelling directino to fruition.  I must regulate the flow of change.  Ultimatelly, I must insure that the change is needed, healthy and permanent so that growth will happen.

As the leader, for the change to "stick" motivation, persuasion, and influencing are musts.  The motivation must be intrinsic and extrinsic.  There will be times for exercising power to get things done, but the compelling direction will be the bond that unifies NLUMC for the journey.  Negotiation will be part of the process.  Listening and speaking, working and resting, and changing of personnel are all part of the journey.  It is a team approach.  Quality of team members is essential all along the journey.  As the compelling direction begins, stages of movement will be constantly evaluated and adapted to insure quality of movement.  I must prevent groupthinking where decisions are made that brings harms to accomplishing of the compelling direction.  I want every participant to have big hearts, strong backbones, and share in the compelling direction in such a way that they can and will freely offer their creative and innovative thoughts and behavior.  As much as possible I want to arrive at the destination with all initial participants. 

For this to happen I much build an organization that will endure through constant improvement and innovation.  Constant learning and evaluation are essential for creativity and innovation to flow.  I will being in external sources of creativity and innovation as much as possible. 

I want to insure that NLUMC's future in secure.  I do this through the development of participants that can and will replace me and each other after a time so that addressing the future needs to the community will be done in a new creative and innovative way.