Delegation is a Pastoral Challenge

As a church or business grows there is the inherent need to transfer more and more authority to those who serve with you. Ideally, the pastor functions like a CEO who basically calls the shots, trouble shoots and casts vision while allowing those around him to carry out their specific duties. While this all sounds great, one who attempts it will find it easier said than done.

There are at least two major challenges involved. One is being certain those who are going to do the 'doing' part of the work have a clear understanding of what you are trying to accomplish. Transferal of vision is vital. It takes time, re-stating the goal over and over. Secondly, it is very difficult to simply let go. When you give it to someone, you realize your only affect will be through training or correcting. Sometimes it is faster at first to do the task yourself than to hand it off. However, in the long run the organization will benefit tremendously from delegation, even if it is a little clumsy at first. Perhaps the biggest challenge is to stay on course. When you involve more people...more people have more opinions. Everyone sees it from their perspective.

As an effective 'CEO' one should listen to all of the opinions, for there is much wisdom in that. At the end of the day I have to make the call that most closely answers the problem and also keeps us in line with the vision. There can only be one vision. In making the call it is known that everyone will not agree with it. If you have a good team, they will go along, even if they do not agree. That is teamwork and that is the kind of trust credible organizations develop.

Hope this lets you see a bit through my eyes. I believe in the power of delegation. But I also understand its challenges.

Blessings on you.

Tim