Where Are Your Leaders?
By Jan Cagno

Your leaders may be lost in the crowd – sitting unnoticed in your church congregation or your Sunday school classes, but assuredly every church has some among its members. The key to finding your leaders is to first understand what leadership is and then recognize the necessary attributes of a good leader.

Leadership denotes authority. It also implies leading the way. Leadership means administration or command. Taking this into account, what kind of person is a good leader:

1. A good leader is an Organizer. He or she must be able to gather all of the relevant information and organize it into a usable form. The leader must be able to organize the steps of operation and the work of the group so as to make the best use of the potential of each member.

2. A good leader is Decisive. That does not mean he or she is a dictator, nor should they be noted for their stubbornness. However, they must be able to make a decision and lead others to do so as well. Neither a “yes” person nor a person who is “wishy washy” will make a good leader. Courage to stand by his or her convictions is important.

3. A good leader must be a good Communicator. He or she must get along well with others and be able to express him or herself in a clear, concise manner that can easily be understood. A good communicator is honest and conveys that honesty to the people he or she works with. A good communicator says what he means and means what he says.

4. A good leader is an Overseer. The overseer is not usually a laborer. The overseer has the master plan and is familiar with every phase of the work. A good overseer is aware of the details but is not lost in them. He has a kindly, noncritical manner that allows him to check on the work without seeming to hang over anyone’s shoulder.

5. A good leader is a Motivator – one who inspires others with a will to do the job. A good motivator identifies with the problems and projects a positive attitude toward the task to be done. A good leader understands the difference between intrinsic (cultivation of an inner zeal) and extrinsic (working for rewards) motivation and can make use of both wisely.

Good leaders are not always the most forward members of the group. They are not always the most talkative nor do they have a strong “take over” kind of personality. Good leaders are good listeners; they tend to think before they speak and act and they enjoy doing a job well. A good leader will draw others out and will spot talents in others. A good leader is usually busy but seldom brags about all that he or she does. A good leader in your Sunday school will speak God’s guidance as he takes a place of responsibility. Ask God to direct you to those who should be in leadership in our Sunday school. Good leaders can make the difference between success and failure – between growth or decline. Start looking today. They are there; you just need to find them.