Leadership 101: Being Misunderstood in the Meantime

I was only twenty-one years old as I stood reading a copy of the letter my mentor had written. Addressed to a key supporter of our international ministry, it was someone whom he wanted me to visit. Reading the last line, I said to my wife, “I’m not going on this trip. I’m afraid I cannot live up to the expectations Jack has shared on these pages.”

I was flattered by his confidence, but frankly could not believe he was willing to put his reputation on the line for me. I was relatively new on staff and knew there were some leaders who may have viewed me as green and as yet “unproven.”

This would be one of my first lessons in Leadership 101. Real leaders – those who want to develop and disciple young leaders – are willing to be Misunderstood in the Meantime. Doing so does not suggest throwing caution and logic to the wind, nor does it mean risking your reputation on anyone who crosses your path.  However, it may mean getting out of your comfort zone and being less risk-adverse as a leader.

Here are some questions to help determine your risk-tolerance when it comes to being Misunderstood in the Meantime. See how many of these are a part of your leadership development process:

• Are you willing to let others lead projects you could do better yourself in order to help them grow?
• Are you willing to let young people minister in key places so they can receive input and guidance from you?
• Do you let students take active roles in your church under the watchful (discipleship) eyes of others?
• Do you have a discipleship model established in your ministry for students and adults?
• How often have you asked another person to assist you with a project knowing it will personally slow you down but practically benefit them?
• When was the last group meeting where you publically praised a new believer or rookie leader whom everyone else was still choosing to reserve judgment?
• How willing are you to let people who work with you fail?
• Do people in your ministry feel like they can fail and still be accepted?
• Do you tell or teach when communicating, thus setting young leaders up for success?
• How often do you remember your journey as a young leader, allowing this to inform your ministry to the young leaders God has placed in your life?

Great leaders are those who are willing to be Misunderstood in the Meantime because they have the best interest of others at heart. We see this in the life of Jesus as he poured into disciples who made mistakes. Yet he continued to develop and disciple them. Are you a risk-taking leader?