The core practice to create and send leaders is challenging but absolutely necessary. The new life we have through Jesus is not meant to begin and end in us. We are called to reproduce our life and leadership in others. Jesus spent the bulk of his ministry creating and sending leaders. He specifically identified and developed twelve men and from those twelve, poured even more deeply into three.
When we talk about the core practice of creating and sending leaders, we are primarily focused on helping you cultivate the practice of developing the people around you. Are you wondering what this could look like in your life? Here are four steps to help you create and send leaders.
Identify a leader
Pray that God will help you identify one person to walk alongside and develop. Take time to notice what Jesus is doing in the people around you.
Prepare a Leader
Preparation varies depending on the individual but many need to be strengthened, encouraged, given instructions and have an opportunity to watch and learn.
Send a Leader
Potential leaders often sit in the background simply because they haven’t been sent! When you send a leader it means that you have given that person permission to go and do! Jesus gave his disciples grace…grace to try new things, even grace to fail. You can remain close by and be available if things come up. But this is a time for the new leader to spread their wings and try to fly!
Debrief with a Leader
Debriefing around our experience of how we have been developing the people around us is also an important step, and what we concentrated on last night. We miss great opportunities in our own growth and formation as well as the growth of others when we don’t take the time to reflect. As you debrief with those you are developing, you may want to ask some probing questions. What did they learn about themselves? Where did they see Jesus at work? What were their frustrations? What can be celebrated? These are good questions to ask yourself as well. We hope they are helpful to you as you continue to integrate this core practice into your life and leadership.
The Next Step
Evaluate your own practice of creating and sending leaders. What phase are you in as you develop the people around you? Find where you are and commit to the principles outlined in that phase in a way that works for you and those you are cultivating. We’d love to hear about your experience and answer your questions. Share your thoughts in the comments below.