Stop Losing Leaders!

Key takeaways

Most churches have critical gaps in their leadership development process, especially in discovering, developing, and deploying leaders effectively.
Clear, written expectations and structured onboarding significantly improve leader retention and confidence.
Deploy leaders with a detailed plan, not randomly or with a parachute, to help them succeed and feel supported.
Consistent, ongoing training and community building among leaders prevent feelings of loneliness and burnout.
Leadership health checks, akin to MRI scans, can diagnose gaps and prevent leadership failure in ministries.
Praying for leaders and fostering relational support are vital for sustaining long-term leadership engagement.

Summary

The Challenge of Retaining Leaders in Ministry

The episode begins by addressing the common frustration among church leaders regarding the revolving door of ministry leaders—people start their roles but quickly burn out or leave. Adam Erlockman emphasizes the importance of understanding why leaders leave, identifying issues like burnout, lack of progress, feeling undervalued, and inadequacies in clear communication and role expectations. He advocates for a structured process to discover, develop, and deploy leaders effectively, and stresses the need for intentional onboarding and ongoing support to build resilient leadership pipelines.

The Six Areas of a Group’s Ministry and Their Impact on Leader Retention

Adam introduces a framework of six core areas critical to any ministry’s success and longevity: discovering new leaders, developing them, deploying them, connecting them, coaching them, and caring for them. He explains that most churches excel in three or fewer of these areas, which contributes to leadership issues. Addressing gaps—particularly in structured development, reliable communication, and ongoing support—is vital for preventing leader loss. The analogy of health checks like MRI scans underscores how diagnosing these core areas helps heal leadership health issues.

Practical Strategies to Stop Losing Leaders

The main focus shifts to actionable steps, beginning with acknowledgment of common mistakes like making 'blind asks'—soliciting potential leaders without clear communication or understanding of their role. Adam advocates for a one-page overview of the leader’s journey—from discovery to deployment—highlighting the importance of transparent expectations. He discusses the significance of proper onboarding, setting clear character and competency expectations, and deploying leaders with a solid plan rather than leaving them to figure things out on their own, akin to deploying with a parachute. Continuous prayer, patience, and equipping leaders regularly are emphasized as essential for growth and retention.

Building Community and Ongoing Support for Leaders

Connecting leaders spiritually and relationally is crucial. Adam emphasizes that pastors should create regular opportunities, like quarterly gatherings, for leaders to build community, share challenges, encourage one another, and receive ongoing training. This reduces feelings of loneliness and equips leaders to handle their roles confidently. Practical advice includes pairing leaders with coaches, maintaining consistent communication, and fostering environments where leaders feel valued and supported. These strategies help prevent burnout and attrition, ensuring leaders remain engaged long-term.

Q&A and Practical Tips for Implementation

Towards the end, Adam addresses specific questions from listeners, including how to adapt these principles in youth ministry and multi-site churches. He underscores the importance of intentional coaching, with clear job descriptions and control over defined actions, to support volunteer leaders effectively. Practical training methods, like table discussions and resource sharing, are recommended to keep leaders engaged and equipped. The episode concludes with a call to pray for leaders and a reminder of the resources available through Discipleship.org, encouraging ongoing learning and application.

Show notes

Are you tired of starting and losing leaders to the revolving door of ministry? Too often, leaders start, but never take root long enough to see an effective impact their ministry can make. We will discuss 5 effective proven ways to keep your leaders around for the longevity of your ministry so they are set up, supported, and seeking to stay for long-term growth in other people’s lives. (A workbook will be provided for this lunch breakout session.)

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