Communicating expectations you never follow through with is a leader’s wost mistake.
To forget is human.
To neglect is to fail.
It’s not enough just to tell people where to go. You must take them there. More than that – you must be decidedly committed to going where you want to lead, and you must have the passion, desire, and resolution to journey with those who follow you at a pace where they can arrive at the destination successfully.
Pastors are visionary – at least they should be. But pastors must also be good managers. Why? Because they are shepherds and that job description requires a lot of management.
Clear expectations is vital to the health of any organization, whether it is a church or a business. I’ve learned this the hard way in my experiences as a pastor, and as a business owner. When I was clear in my expectations there was positive productivity. When I wasn’t, it was a formula for disaster. But clear expectations isn’t just enough.
Accountability must follow expectations, otherwise “expectations” just comes off as wishful thinking. Most of all, a leader must follow through on the expectations they have set up for themselves.
- If you say you’re going to call – call
- If you said you’re going to have lunch – have lunch.
Just ask a shepherd…leading a flock isn’t just done from the front of the pack. A lot of times it’s done behind it.