Rising Above Status Quo Leadership

Seth Godin commented today on the question, “Is everything okay?” His conclusion is that we spend way too much time focusing on making sure everything is okay and end up losing the opportunity for positive change. This caused me to reflect on one of the great challenges of being a Pastor. We want to keep people happy and harmonious. We want things to be okay because of all of our insecurities, but we end up forfeiting the opportunity to throw off the equilibrium of people to create opportunities for growth and positive change.

Status quo leadership seeks to keep the peace, to appease the disgruntled, and to manage conflict. Rising above status quo leadership requires that we actually challenge the status quo and refuse to allow it to exist at all. How do you rise above status quo leadership?

• Size up the biggest tasks you’ve been afraid to face.
• Count the cost and consider the sacrifice.
• Weigh the benefits of pressing forward against the benefits of slowing down.
• Take risks in faith.
• Follow God’s lead.
• Rebuke comfort zones!
• Challenge people to grow.

Everything isn’t okay and it never will be, so why stay put?