There are 12 Characteristics that are essential for leadership. They fall into 3 categories – those that reflect our relationship to and with God, those that reflect our relationship with others, and the personal characteristics that are expressive of the way we lead and live our life.
Leaders embody and exhibit the following 12 Characteristics:
Characteristics that reflect a Leader’s relationship with God:
1. Committed to Christ
- Daily and regular prayer Life
- Engagement with Sacred Scripture (not sermon prep)
- Regular Worship (not while leading)
- Tithes (or working toward the tithe)
- Active in Service (within / outside church)
2. Centered (in God’s will)
- Lives daily to follow Jesus• Continually works at centering oneself in God’s will and gets caught up in the mystery and grace of God
- Sees Church as the ‘Body of Christ’ (for the sake of the world)
- Family and friends are central relationships to experiencing God
- Knows the world, near and far, is deeply loved by the Crucified and Risen Jesus
3. Called
- Deeply believes God lives and works in and through us
- Remains open, curious and attuned to what God is doing personally and with the community
- Senses, hears and responds to God’s urging, voice, calling
- Listens to the word of God and shares in the Lord’s supper
- Is confident, through internal experience and the validation of others, that one has a part to play in the story of God’s love for the world
Characteristics that reflect a Leader’s relationship with Others:
4. Chemistry
- Able to play well with others
- Brings energy to the room
- Surrounds self with great and gifted people
- Emotionally Intelligent• Interacts well with others
5. Compassion
- Watchful and attentive
- Really sees others for who they are (Image of God)
- Empathetic
- Thoughtful, kind and responds to others’ needs
- Aware of boundaries and keeps others safe
6. Connectedness
- Connected to Jesus
- Connected to Others
- Connected to the Church
- Locally (with colleagues – ELCA, ecumenical and/or ministerial association, service organizations; knows and is known by key community leaders)
- Synodically (provides synodical leadership, invests time and money)
- ELCA (Churchwide and the larger Church)
- Global (Lutheran World Federation and companion Churches)
7. Creator of Community
- Invites friends and strangers into conversation
- Hospitable
- Makes time and safe space for communication, conversation, and presence
- Networks, makes connections and builds community with others (on many different levels)
Personal Characteristics of a Leader:
8. Character
- Leads with Humility
- Lives with Integrity
- Cooperative and Intentional
- Self-Motivated and Loyal
- Has a Sense of Humor (able to laugh at self)
- Curious
9. Capacity
- Knows and shares one’s spiritual and ministerial gifts and talents
- Spends intentional time in skill-building activities
- Can identify, invest in and foster growth in others (teacher / coach)
- Invests in self-growth (25% of professional time); reads, learns, grows; reads, learns, grows; reads, learns, grows
10. Courage
- Acts bravely in difficult situations
- Makes tough decisions to achieve the mission
- Holds oneself and other people accountable• Challenges / disciplines difficult behavior
- Holds high expectations and goes after what seems impossible• Is Relational and connected to other curious and courageous people
11. Catalyst
- Inspires through communication / motivation
- Promotes, facilitates and leads adaptive change
- Challenges the norm for the sake of the Gospel mission
- Stimulates dreaming and vision for the future
- Strives for justice and peace
12. Competent
- Capable, skilled and knowledgeable in areas of leadership and relating to others
- Preaches and Teaches the Gospel (Lay or Ordained, knows how to share Jesus in words and actions)
- Cares for self and others effectively
- Leads a parish, team, group or community effectively
- Serves all people, following the example of Jesus
