Be a “resilient pastor”
Navigating Leadership
Insights from Glenn Packiam’s Work on Pastoral and General Leadership Challenges
This week, I had the privilege to delve into the insights of Glenn Packiam, author of The Resilient Pastor and The Intentional Year. Although Packiam predominantly writes for pastors, his perspective on leadership challenges seamlessly translates into universal themes, which are pertinent to leaders across all spectrums.
Key Challenges in Leadership
Through collaborative research with the Barna Group, Packiam identifies four core challenges faced by pastors: vocation, spirituality, relationships, and credibility. Although Packiam’s writings are primarily targeted toward pastors, his insights transcend vocational boundaries, offering invaluable perspectives to leaders in various sectors. Across the spectrum leaders confront these four issues continually:
Vocation: Is my current role the optimal utilization of my time and skills?
Spirituality: How is my faith or spiritual life integrated into my leadership approach?
Relationships: How do I navigate the often lonely path of leadership?
Credibility: Do those who follow me trust my leadership?
Let’s dive into one of these aspects — relationships — and explore the ways through which leaders can navigate through its complexities.
Relationships: A Deep Dive
Leadership, albeit surrounded by people, often treads a lonesome path. Business owners and top-level leaders frequently find themselves in isolated positions, devoid of genuine peer interactions. Their relationships are typically characterized by two distinct features:
Asymmetrical: The leader often lacks peers, resulting in a power differential in most interactions.
Nonreciprocal: Leaders predominantly give, both in terms of time and resources, receiving minimal in return.
Such asymmetrical and nonreciprocal relationships can potentially be detrimental to leaders, gradually depleting their relational and emotional reserves, even though they are constantly engaged with others.
The Path Forward: Symmetrical and Reciprocal Relationships
The antidote to the isolation and exhaustion stemming from asymmetrical and nonreciprocal relationships is establishing connections that are both symmetrical and reciprocal. Leaders need to seek and nurture relationships where:
There is no substantial power differential, enabling genuine peer interactions.
There is a balanced exchange of giving and receiving, ensuring emotional and relational replenishment.
John Townsend’s People Fuel brilliantly elucidates our intrinsic needs for such balanced relationships, further highlighting the importance of establishing and maintaining them.
Although Packiam’s writings are primarily targeted toward pastors, his insights transcend vocational boundaries, offering invaluable perspectives to leaders in various sectors. By addressing challenges related to vocation, spirituality, relationships, and credibility, leaders can navigate through the intricate tapestry of their roles with resilience and intentionality.
Consider gifting The Resilient Pastor to leaders, pastors, or anyone in a position of influence. The applicability of the suggestions within extends far beyond pastoral leadership, providing practical guidance for leaders in all walks of life.
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