You really want to introduce some new changes in a ministry that have existed for some time in the church but you’re afraid and rationalize, “I just don’t know if the current leaders are ready for that.”  You’ve been thinking about starting a second service designed to be more friendly to the unchurched in the community but you’re afraid of upsetting the voices that proclaim we need to worship as one church family.  You’ve been thinking about intentionally pursuing a new vision that will lead to some deep change in the church but you’re afraid of the tension and anxiety that will need to be managed and so you don’t take the next step toward that dream.  You’ve been challenged to take the plug and plant a new congregation out of your existing pregnant congregation, but you’re afraid to navigate the voices of those who say “No!”  Our fears often stop us from pursuing what we believe God is calling us to do and keep us from stepping outside our comfort zones.  Yet we know from looking back over the timeline of our life experiences that some of the greatest times of growth in our lives have come when we journeyed outside our comfort zone.  So what can we do in those moments of fear in our leadership roles?  Can I still live in my fears but they no longer have a hold of me?  Can I trust God’s promises – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)

In a recent article Thom Rainer identifies eight signs of fearful leadership.  He suggests that as leaders if we manifest any of these signs that we ought to seek immediate behavioral change.  Here is his list of fearful tendencies:

1.      “Procrastination.  Fearful leaders put off tasks for fear that they cannot do them well.  They are experts at passive-aggressive behavior.  They can receive an assignment to do a task, then ‘conveniently’ forget to do it.
2.      Over-analysis. Fearful leaders want to over-analyze every situation in an attempt to eliminate risk.  They never stop analyzing because they can never eliminate the risk.  An organization built around fear will have an excess of analysts and policy wonks.
3.      A bias against actions outside the status quo.  The status quo is the lone comfort place of a fearful leader.  Get him or her beyond status quo, and the leader is often deemed ineffective.  Though the fearful leader may avoid the overused, ‘We’ve never done it that way before,’ he or she might say something similar like, ‘That’s really not the way we do it here.’
4.      Worry about critics.  The fearful leader is a people pleaser.  Critics can immobilize him or her.  To use a sports metaphor, fearful leaders avoid decisions that might draw criticism because they play not to lose rather than playing to win.
5.      Reticence to show weaknesses or lack of knowledge.  The fearful leader is an insecure person.  He or she does not want to exhibit any weaknesses, even though he or she may have several.  You will see the opposite trait exhibited in confident, courageous leaders.  They have no problems pointing out their own weaknesses and ignorance.
6.      Reticence to move people off the bus.  No one should enjoy firing people.  No one should enjoy telling a volunteer that he or she is no longer needed in a particular position.  But for the sake of the organization, leaders need to move some people off the bus.  The fearful leader will let persons stay on the bus well beyond their effectiveness because they fear confrontation, and because they fear making a wrong decision.
7.      Failure to reinvent oneself.  A fearful leader does not want their circumstances to change; that is why such leaders fiercely defend the status quo.  Likewise, they don’t see any need for change in themselves.  Courageous leaders are constantly reinventing themselves.  Fearful leaders rarely improve their skill sets significantly.
8.      Obsession with details.  Fearful leaders love to stay in the morass of insignificant details.  Because the details are usually unimportant, it is difficult to make a mistake of consequence.  Of course, it’s impossible to do anything of consequence when your focus is on those things that really don’t make a difference.”

As I read through these eight signs of fearful leaders I asked myself, what are the signs that I personally exhibit?  Which of these signs do I see or others see mostly in me?  How about you?  As you evaluate yourself, what signs do you find yourself gravitating toward?  Ultimately we all have the choice whether or not to step outside our comfort zones to be used by God to serve Him in greater ways.  You and I will always have fears but with God’s strength within us our fears lose their grip from keeping us from pursuing all that God calls us to do.

Wayne Van Regenmorter

Wayne’s Schedule:
June
9:  Crosspoint Gathering/Calvary Reformed Church/Orland Park, IL; Training Illiana-Florida Special Committee/Living Springs Community Church/Glenwood, IL
10:  Office/Travel to Pella, IA – General Synod
11:  Panel at GS Clerk’s Meeting/Pella, IA
12-17:  General Synod/Pella, IA
18:  Meeting/Beecher, IL
19:  Office
20:  Coaching; Conference Call
21:  Off
22:  Preach/New Hope Community Church/Wausau, WI; Ordination and Commissioning of Jill Vande Zande/First Reformed Church/Randolph, WI

Wayne’s contact information:
10088 Prairie Knoll Ct.
St. John, IN 46373
Mobile: (941) 302-1281
Email:  wregen@msyn.org