Sometimes being a leader is a lot like playing a strategy game. You work to move around all the right pieces at just the right time in hopes of getting the perfect results. Two of the toughest pieces to balance in this game of moving parts can be results and relationships.
When we become too focused on seeing results in our ministry, it’s easy to lose sight of the relational aspect. You’ll never achieve your goals without the help of the people on your team, and who wants to follow a leader who is impersonal? A phrase we echo continually at camp is that we believe ministry happens best through the context of relationships. As a leader, I never want to miss out on the opportunity to get to know those I am working with.
At the end of the day, however, there is still work to be done. If we focus only on building relationships with others, we aren’t leading them well. A leader still needs to be casting vision and driving a team towards their goals. A good leader knows his team well and has a guided plan in place. His team follows him not because he has the title of leader, but out of an overflow of their relationship with him.
So how do we balance working toward results and relationships at the same time? A lot of it comes from perspective. Ask yourself what’s really important to you: What are your goals and how can you motivate your team to accomplish them? Always come prepared as the leader, but never let the details of your business blind you from seeing the needs of your team. Try keeping yourself in check by setting aside specific times just to build relationships with your team or just to work on the details.
What are some ways you balance results and relationships in your ministry?