Organizational Leadership
A colleague of mine once quipped that "Leadership is the art of hiding your panic from others." The kernel of truth is that effective leadership does involve being a "non-anxious presence." As minister (and often chief of staff), I prefer to employ a collaborative leadership style, or a facilitative style, as called for by the situation or as requested by the leadership. I’m comfortable functioning as a visionary, a catalyst, or as a worker bee, as the situation requires. Most of the time, I'd choose the "catalyst" or "midwife" model because it best empowers the congregation to express and embrace their ownership of the congregation. After many years as a lay leader, I understand the important difference between being a "coach" (the minister) and being a "ball handler" (the laity).
This is not to say that I don't roll up my sleeves and get in the trenches to make a vision a reality. In fact, I'm probably more pro-active than some of my colleagues because I so enjoy being part of a group effort. As I’ve grown in my professional ministry, I’ve gained clarity about my role as part of the leadership team of the congregation and have been able to craft a comfortable balance between initiating and supporting.
In my view, “church” is a great, creative, heart-centered, sometimes-messy, collaborative experiment. My understanding of “collaboration” between the minister and the laity is that it is reciprocal. The minister supports the initiative of the laity and visa versa. I would hope that the minister’s enthusiasm and creativity would be welcome and trusted, rather than viewed as threatening. In essence, we are all in the enterprise/experiment of “community building” and “ministry” together.
As the leader with a 360 degree view of the congregation, I’m also an eager and able collaborator in the stewardship process, helping to refine a theme, preach a stewardship sermon or two, and participate in the campaign as requested by the Chair.
I never use the word “silos” to describe areas of responsibility, I seek to avoid triangles and unilateral decision-making, apologize as appropriate; take the heat when necessary, advocate for fair compensation and decent working conditions, provide pastoral support for the staff, promote loyalty through my own actions, laugh at myself, and bring my sense of humor and humility to work each and every day.
In assessing my leadership, others have said of me, that I am "clear about [my] mission, striding forward both physically and emotionally in a manner that draws those around [me] to follow;" that I am "an adult who is willing to listen and change her mind," that I "have the composure to keep singing the song even when I've sung the wrong line at the wrong time," that I have "a keen intuitive sense that allows me to connect deeply with others;" that I am "very compassionate and allow others to be vulnerable," that "I put people at ease with a relaxed and confident style, and that I “find the silver linings."
As a leader who is grounded in a realistic optimism, I've developed the maturity to know that those “silver linings” often come wrapped around thunderclouds, and I’ve taken steps to learn effective approaches to manage conflict (namely, professional mediation, counseling, and conflict management trainings).
Creator and Facilitator of Leadership Retreats, (2006-present) Programs I have organized and facilitated include: Board retreats, Pastoral Care trainings, Ministry start-ups, Conflict Transformation Town Meetings, Lay Worship trainings, and Visioning Retreats.
This is not to say that I don't roll up my sleeves and get in the trenches to make a vision a reality. In fact, I'm probably more pro-active than some of my colleagues because I so enjoy being part of a group effort. As I’ve grown in my professional ministry, I’ve gained clarity about my role as part of the leadership team of the congregation and have been able to craft a comfortable balance between initiating and supporting.
In my view, “church” is a great, creative, heart-centered, sometimes-messy, collaborative experiment. My understanding of “collaboration” between the minister and the laity is that it is reciprocal. The minister supports the initiative of the laity and visa versa. I would hope that the minister’s enthusiasm and creativity would be welcome and trusted, rather than viewed as threatening. In essence, we are all in the enterprise/experiment of “community building” and “ministry” together.
As the leader with a 360 degree view of the congregation, I’m also an eager and able collaborator in the stewardship process, helping to refine a theme, preach a stewardship sermon or two, and participate in the campaign as requested by the Chair.
I never use the word “silos” to describe areas of responsibility, I seek to avoid triangles and unilateral decision-making, apologize as appropriate; take the heat when necessary, advocate for fair compensation and decent working conditions, provide pastoral support for the staff, promote loyalty through my own actions, laugh at myself, and bring my sense of humor and humility to work each and every day.
In assessing my leadership, others have said of me, that I am "clear about [my] mission, striding forward both physically and emotionally in a manner that draws those around [me] to follow;" that I am "an adult who is willing to listen and change her mind," that I "have the composure to keep singing the song even when I've sung the wrong line at the wrong time," that I have "a keen intuitive sense that allows me to connect deeply with others;" that I am "very compassionate and allow others to be vulnerable," that "I put people at ease with a relaxed and confident style, and that I “find the silver linings."
As a leader who is grounded in a realistic optimism, I've developed the maturity to know that those “silver linings” often come wrapped around thunderclouds, and I’ve taken steps to learn effective approaches to manage conflict (namely, professional mediation, counseling, and conflict management trainings).
Creator and Facilitator of Leadership Retreats, (2006-present) Programs I have organized and facilitated include: Board retreats, Pastoral Care trainings, Ministry start-ups, Conflict Transformation Town Meetings, Lay Worship trainings, and Visioning Retreats.
Read Rev. Robin’s Stewardship sermon: “Two Copper Coins: A Sermon Towards Effort”