7 LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES TO FLOURISH IN THIS SEASON

by Mark Varughese

The unpredictability caused by this season has brought unprecedented challenge to church leadership. Here are 7 principles I shared with my staff that may help you.

1. Think long term, plan short term. In a season full of the unknown and uncertainties, planning for the long term is daunting and futile, but if we don’t think long term, we will not create a road map of hope during a time of crisis because things are literally changing day by day. In this time, it is key to think and prepare for the long term, but to plan and act in the immediate.

2. Plan for worst case, pray for best case. If you plan solely with the best case in mind, you’re only ever one change away from your plans falling through. But planning for the worst case does not mean that we stop living with faith and boldness! That is why it’s so important that whilst planning, you continually pray for the best case, making sure that your spirit doesn’t get caught up and weighed down.

3. Acknowledge facts, but speak faith. In this season, some people are all facts and no faith; others are almost hyper-faith and don’t want to acknowledge reality. It’s important to pastor people on both extremes with empathy, and to speak life and faith in the midst of pragmatic realities. Great leaders are in touch with reality whilst holding hope and imparting faith for the future. Read the news and meditate on God’s word. Not the other way around.

4. Less physical touch, more personal touch. The request to socially distance has made people almost averse to physical touch. Rather than mourn its demise, double down on what you’re missing out on by multiplying the personal touch. Be intentional with your world. Buy someone a gift, send it to them online, write a letter. We may be limited in proximity, but we are not limited in thoughtfulness.

5. Decrease demand, increase supply. As leaders, we need to take into account the situations that our teams are in, and decrease the demand on them. Don’t lower your standards, but lead with grace and flexibility. Celebrate the wins and be the leader who is known as a person of grace and patience. Remember! The law demands but grace supplies, so especially in this season, let’s focus on the supply of God’s grace that is available to us all.

6. Reach globally, connect locally. We can’t make the mistake of thinking that when our online services reach someone, they become connected to our church. As churches reach into every corner of the world through the online sphere, we need to be intentional and continue to reach out locally. Nothing can replace the power of connection, and that must happen locally.

7. Sacrifice your role, celebrate the whole. This is not the season to ask where your career path is going, or to map out your ministry future. Uncertainty bonds us because of a common enemy, which means that team success is the only goal. Clarity about my role matters less than clarity of the whole. Celebrate the whole, because everyone is playing a part in what is being achieved right now.

God can use all things together for good, including this season. Believing that every victory will build faith, every struggle will build perseverance, and we will come out of this stronger in Jesus’ name.