Two ways of leadership, community and staff teams…

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Image two congregations or staff teams who work from one of the two perspectives/mindsets listed in column A or B. Which do you think creates the most positive outcomes?  Which do you think models and invites an I-Thou culture and way of being?

Questions in section A seem to come from and create an I-It culture and B invites an I-Thou culture.  From which attitude do you function and “be” most often?

A. Leadership, congregation or staff team motivated by questions such as the following:

  • How can I get ahead?
  • How can I look good?
  • How can I get them to do what I want?
  • How can I get away with doing ‘x’?
  • How can I get even?
  • How can I do as little as possible?
  • How can I be impressive?
  • How can I get someone else to do this for me?
  • How can I get the supervisor to like me? To be impressed with me?
  • How can I convince the SPR, etc. that I am right and the other person(s) is wrong?

B. Leadership, congregation or staff team motivated by questions and a spirit such as the following:

  • If there is a challenge of which I am part, how am I part of the problem/challenge for others? What part of this challenge/problem do I need to take responsibility? How am I contributing to the challenge or helping create it? (Taking Appropriate Responsibility)
  • How can I be more helpful to others? (Creating a spirit and attitude of Collaboration)
  • How can I help things go better/right – how can I /we sustain the new I-Thou culture/environment once it is established or once things are going well? (Sustain positive influence/impact)

Questions for Reflection:

  • Which of these two sets of questions do you think is more effective in creating healthy, mature, Christ-like teams that yield positive outcomes? What is the difference between A and B? How would a congregation or staff team look that lived and functioned from the questions in section B?
  • From which are you functioning? Which do you prefer? What are you willing to do to make the shift? Once making the shift, how do you put things in place to sustain the shift?
  • How is goal setting informed by these two ways of being and doing?

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Dr. W. Craig Gilliam is on the staff of JustPeace Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation housed in Washington, D.C.; director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence in the United Methodist Church, LA Conference. He is an adjunct instructor at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and consults with churches and other organizations across the country; and has a private practice, consulting with churches and other organizations across the country. His primary areas of interest are group dynamics and systems that foster healthy, creative, mature, nurturing communities.