Most leaders have a desire to rise in within the organization they serve. It’s no different in the church, but in all environments, it’s how you go about it that matters.
There are leaders who place pressure on those above them, always wanting something more.
And there are leaders who serve well in the roles they’ve been given and over time are selected for greater levels of responsibility.
Yes, there is more to it, and there are always two sides of the coin.
There are organizations that use their staff and want more from them than for them. Those environments are not healthy, and it’s unlikely that they consistently practice leadership development. But in my experience, those churches are few and far between.
In contrast, If your work environment is good, but not ideal, your first opportunity to advance is to help make it better. This is not done by criticizing or complaining, but going the extra mile and solving problems with a great attitude.
Next, we need to define rising or advancing in the organization.
There is more than one way.
Rising in organizational authority. This path is more readily available in larger church environments and especially multi-site churches because there are more opportunities with greater levels of responsibility. However, the higher you rise, fewer chairs remain available, and eventually, there isn’t another one for you. Then its about other factors, both within you and your perspective of the value of a great environment over the perfect job.
Rising in personal influence. This path is available for anyone in any church, and opportunity continually presents itself because there is always a need. There may or may not be another “seat” available, but your personal (leadership) influence can always be increased. When you grow as a leader, you set yourself up to be invited to greater levels of responsibility, even though you may maintain the same organizational title or role.
For example, I was talking with a student pastor who was recently invited to occasionally speak on Sundays. Once again, how long this satisfies your desires depends on other factors, both inside you, and the nature of the culture you serve in.
4 Steps to Help You Rise in Your Organization
1) Test your heart
“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.”
I Timothy 3:1
The message says it this way: “If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good!”
The aspiration to leadership is a good thing because at the core, you agree to:
- Care deeply about others
- Carry the weight of responsibly with integrity
- Manage your personal life and emotions
- Maintain a trusted reputation
But it’s always good to quietly reflect about your reason to rise higher on team or in the church.
What are your true and deepest motivations to lead at a higher level? This question does not presume self-serving motives, but it’s wise to know your motivation because that’s what keeps you going if your heart remains unsettled.
Further, if your motives remain clear it helps make either: contentment easier or decision-making clearer.
2) Absorb the pressure
It’s natural human response to want to get rid of pressure, and typically to do it as quickly as possible.
For example, it might be a significant financial challenge, or a complicated relational conflict that will have a ripple effect. Or maybe a major decision where you have little time, and you’re not sure how to handle it.
The natural response is to quickly take it to the person above you in the organization. The reason is because the moment you talk to them, they own a percentage of the pressure, at least mentally and emotionally, and therefore you own a little less.
The leader that can consistently absorb the pressure of the responsibilities they carry in a healthy and productive way, is on the right path to rise in the organization.
This doesn’t mean never talk to the person you report to. They are there for you. They are responsible to serve as your coach. It does mean, however, to solve all the problems and handle all the pressure you can first, then take what you really need help with to your coach.
3) Be willing to do the less-desired work
There will always be work for the person who is willing to do the hard things no one else wants to do.
We don’t need to have the spiritual gift of “helps” to maintain a strong internal disposition to be helpful.
There is a difference between the two.
The person with the gift of helps delights to assist with any task that needs to be done. A leader with a disposition to be helpful will remain focused in their lane according to their gifts, and committed to their calling to accomplish the greater vision.
An inner disposition to be helpful in order to advance the vision, stirs something within a leader that moves them to do the hard stuff, the less desired work that most others are not willing to do.
This internal wiring results in a clearly noticeable attitude that creates a pathway to rise in the organization.
4) Move multiple areas forward
We typically start off early in our leadership as a generalist, meaning, we do a little of everything. As we grow; and our gifts, talents and passion begin to be identified and clarified, we tend toward more specialized and focused roles.
Then, as we mature in leadership, and rise in the organization, our leadership once again becomes wide in scope and varied in responsibilities.
The ability to lead multiple areas forward simultaneously, in a healthy and productive manner, is an essential element on the path of advancement on the team and in the organization.
This does not mean to grab all you can to show what you can do.
You can however, volunteer to help with projects and ministries that are outside your job description. When you do this without expecting anything in return, and help make measurable progress, this always gets noticed in a healthy organization.
This often leads to being trusted with more than one area of ministry.
But caution:
Don’t take on too many areas too fast. Don’t skim the surface and grow ministry by mere energy and flash. Slow down and grow each area with substance. This takes longer but demonstrates wise leadership.
Don’t allow your enthusiasm for expanded responsibility to result in burnout, take the time to grow your self as you expand your leadership.
5) Enjoy what you’ve been given to build
There are two roads any leader can walk. Their work is all work, or their work is their joy. The amazing thing is that it’s a choice.
That doesn’t mean that every day or week or even a few months is easy. But if we see our work, our opportunity to lead, as a good gift from our heavenly Father, its takes on a completely different meaning and value.
There may be something you really want to lead that burns in your soul, that’s a good thing. Hold that passion. But if you have not yet been invited to do that, then hold to your patience like you hold to your passion.
While you hold your patience, build what you have been entrusted with. Make it better. Grow it. And here’s the important part, enjoy the process. Focus on the joy of learning, leading and building rather than being frustrated while you wait.
Remember, there is no perfect job, it’s about how you see your role and responsibility, how you carry it and what you do with it. That is the path to help open the doors of your dreams.
