• Hi, I’m Brad Abare

  I'm a make-it-happen guy working with big idea people. I design teams and orchestrate strategy so that great ideas I believe in get done.
  
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For those of us who work regularly in environments that are church/para-church related, it’s not unusual to participate in moments that are rare elsewhere. I have yet to find a job in another industry that makes prayer, worship, devotional time and communion a part of the regular rhythm. This integration of faith into the workplace can be good and bad, especially when it comes to the leadership within these kinds of organizations.

I’m seeing three types of leaders found in church/para-church organizations…

Managers
Whether brought up from within, imported from the mainstream workplace, or transferred from a similar organization, good managers understand how to lead people well. They understand what it means to be a corporation, establish a healthy culture, pursue a worthy cause and promote good communication. They like integrating faith into the workplace, but they struggle with how best to do it. A good manager is trusted for their competence and appreciated for their care and concern for people, not just projects.

Ministers
These are the leaders within an organization that can be so focused on the cause, that the corporation, culture and communication aspects to their job tend to take a back seat. Ministers are often seen as the top of the food chain because they are the pinnacle of perspective. They must be closer to God because how else could they serve so sacrificially, so often! They love integrating faith into the workplace because they are uncomfortable otherwise. A good minister is trusted for their care and concern for people, and forgiven for their lack of competence in key areas.

Manipulators
Manipulators are the leaders who are managers on the inside and ministers on the outside. They can’t figure out who they want to be, so they try and do both. They like the esteem that being a minister brings, and they love the results from being a manager because things seem to be getting done. These insecure leaders have a difficult time differentiating between their will and the will of God which makes faith in the workplace very confusing. A good manipulator is not trusted for their competence, or care and concern for people, because no one knows who they are.

I’m still sorting through the implications of these different leadership styles and, more importantly, what might be a better approach to leading these types of organizations. I’m intrigued by the concept of Prophet, Priest and King from the Old Testament. Perhaps more, later.

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