Week 12: 360 Degree Leader

The theory of the 360 Degree Leader states that regardless of position or authority, a person in any role as the ability to lead people in positions all around him.  He can lead those who have authority over him but supporting, encouraging, and working as hard as he can for them.  A person can lead others at the same level as him by not competing against them but by working with them, giving them ideas, and encouraging them.  And finally, a person can lead those below him, but can do so in a way that empowers and enables rather than simply demanding something from them. 

I can see how this leadership trait would be effective at the River Community Church.  I believe that because the church is still in its beginning stages it needs 360 degree leaders.  I believe that by having an attitude of service and not competition we can empower leaders to take up roles in ministry that will ultimately do great things for the churches future.  In my thinking, I think it would be great for the church to develop lay leaders who feel like they have ownership over a part of the ministry.  The ministry becomes their own and they take great pride in it.  I have seen how a church plant may struggle because it can be difficult to get people involved at first, but by having the leaders encourage those on all levels to take up ownership of the ministry will help tremendously.  

360 Degree leadership is also something that I feel will really benefit the church staff as a whole.  It can eliminate, to some degree, the hierarchy that exists between the senior pastor and the other pastors on staff.  When a senior pastor leads with principles from the 360 Degree leader, he does not simply show authority and power to the other pastors, but he encourages them and empowers them to go and minister, maybe with the same authority that he has.  A 360 Degree leader will give opportunities to other pastors to succeed and grow in ministry.  I think that would be great for the church because it can help alleviate friction in the relationships between staff pastors.  We're all working towards the same goal and if we become 360 Degree leaders we are helping everyone move in a way where they can serve and minister.