Scott Williams, author of Church Diversity: Sunday the Most Segregated Day of the Week (2011 – read my review here) and leadership guru, recently shared five ways leaders destroy their teams:
- using the “my way or the highway” approach,
- being “all about the numbers”,
- always talking – never really listening,
- making changes for the sake of change, and
- not caring about the people on the team.
So What?
Whether a given task happens in the life of a church, a business, or any other organization, effective execution often relies on a team effort. Leaders often make or break the team. When leaders lead out of self-interest, focus on results without understanding process, or make changes simply because their position empowers them to force others to do as they say, then teams become something less than they should be. When leaders lead with vision; care about people, process, and results; and seek to empower all members of the team to use their knowledge, skills, and abilities, then teams have the possibility of becoming what they should be.
- Share one bad experience you have had with a leader when working on a team for a church project.
- Which of the five bad habits are you most prone to be tempted to rely on when you lead?