Next Generation Leader

I recenetly finished another book that will hopefully have a great impact on my future ministry as a youth pastor. This book is entited Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. One reason I really like this book is that it is written by a pastor. While it can definately be applied to church leaders any leader in general can glean mountains of wealth from the pages. This book is rather easy to write a summary about because it is split up into five key areas a leader needs to focus on.

1. Competence
Stanley's main point here can be summed up: spend more time doing what you are good at/gifted at. Spend more time delegating what you are less gifted at. A good quote from the book: "The very activites that drained me fueled other team members." Why should I waste time doing things I dislike when there are other people who have an intense passion for them. I like the point he made about choosing people in churches to help with tasks. He says that rather than ask for volunteers we should target those who we feel would be gifted in our area of need and exploit them. Makes sense to me.

2. Courage
Courage does not enhance leadership, it creates it. By mere definition a leader is someone who does things others will not do alone. Many people talk about what needs to be done, a leader steps out and does it. A great paradox about risk was brought to light in this section. A leader is more than willing to take risks when he/she has nothing to lose. This often results in the person gaining more influence. After a while the leader has so much to lose taking risks becomes hard, even though taking risks are the very thing that brought on all the influence the leader now has.

3. Clarity
The main thing I learned here was the difference between being unclear and uncertain. There are always uncertain times; this is why we need leaders. A leader however must be crystal clear. We must be so clear that people are willing to follow us to places even we ourselves have not been. Uncertainty comes with the role, being unclear undermines the role.

4. Coachability
Leaders don't need to be led by coaches, right? WRONG! Stanley points out the numerous benefits of having someone along side a leader that will say the hard things and push more than anyone else. With a person like this the sky is the limit for a leader. You want to know who the best leaders in the world are...the ones who never stop learning and growing.

5. Character
This aspect is the most important and give the other four credibility. According to Stanley, the first four make you a leader, character makes you a leader worth following. A few quote sum up nicely this section. "The shortest distance between where you are and where you want to be is not the most honorable one." "People have to buy into the leader before they buy into the vision." "We are always one word, one decision, one reaction away from damaging what has taken years to develop."

Zehr0 rating...a definate 5 out of 5.