This is the last post in a five-part series addressing myths about entrepreneurs in the church. If you missed previous posts, you can first check out part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.
 

Myth #5: Somehow, I’ll End Up Being the Bad Guy

Real leading is one of the loneliest roles on earth. If you are leading a church so that others will have a positive impression of you, you are in the wrong business. Every biblical leader suffered coup attempts, judgment, ridicule and even martyrdom. Pastors cannot make decisions based on a hope for popularity or their God will become themselves.
 

The Myth

Everyone will fall so in love with the entrepreneur’s ideas that when I say, “No,” I’ll look bad.
Continue Reading

This is part four in a five-part series addressing myths about entrepreneurs in the church. If you missed previous posts, you can click to check out part 1, part 2, and part 3.
 

Myth #4: Entrepreneurs Never Think Small

Some pastors are happy to lead a community church of 250 people. That is what God has called them to. Yet even in this circumstance, there is still room for the entrepreneur.
 

The Myth

We are not big enough for entrepreneurial thinkers on our team.
 

The Truth

Entrepreneurs solve problems. Are you starting to see a theme here? Entrepreneurs, generally, could not care less how small or big the problem or solution is. They just like to see a bridge built to a better future.

When you firmly establish your organizational leadership role with an entrepreneur and communicate your vision, they are happy to ideate within it. It is true, entrepreneurs break the proverbial box. However, the size of the box is not a prerequisite to their interest when working within the context of their church.

They just want to be who God has called them to be and submit their gifts to their church. You get to set the boundaries and context.

One right question that you should pursue is, “Does God want me to have a bigger vision?”

Sometimes God puts people in our lives to challenge us to stretch beyond our abilities. This causes us to rely on Him. One way to figure this out is by determining whether or not your vision is driven by your comfort or God’s direction. I will discuss that in other posts; but, for now, wrestle with the idea that the entrepreneur in your midst may be God’s way of pushing you to take the talents He gave you from 10 to 100.

If this is the case, don’t be afraid to let the entrepreneur run within that vision. If they are pushing the picture to a place that is bigger than what God has given you, challenge them in that. Re-set the boundaries, they can handle it. They need to solve the problem you are identifying, not the problem they are conjuring. Most entrepreneurs are happy to live in that context.

Check back next Wednesday for the fifth and last myth: Somehow I (the pastor) will end up being the bad guy.

Better yet, subscribe below, and the post will land in your inbox!
 
 

This is part three in a five-part series addressing myths about entrepreneurs in the church. If you missed previous posts, you can check out part 1 here and part 2 here.
 

Myth #3: They Will Present a Leadership Threat

Every organization either has one leader or no leader. If multiple people are vying for leadership, and people are following them, then the organization as a whole is lacking a leader. If you are losing leadership because of another strong leader in the organization, your organization is losing leadership. Leadership is not being taken from you.
 

The Myth

Strong leaders need to lead and will not stop eroding leadership from me until they have it.
 

The Truth

Entrepreneurs are generally strong leaders. They will always step into leadership gaps. However, unless they are evil, which few of them are, they are not trying to steal anything from you.

In his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell talks about the Law of the Lid. The Law of the Lid suggests that we all have some quotient on a scale of one to ten that represents the level at which we have the capacity to lead in any given area.

None of us will have that in every area—no one is great at everything. What will make you a great leader is when you figure out how to empower people that are stronger leaders in areas where you are not as strong.

If you feel threatened by another leader in your organization, it ultimately says more about your lack of leadership strength, aptitude and experience than it does about their ability to lead.
 

Invite Entrepreneurs into the Process

If you feel like your leadership is being eroded by an entrepreneur, you simply have to figure out how to lead entrepreneurs into your vision and outcomes. Entrepreneurs solve problems. If they sense a leadership problem, they will attempt to solve it; but, that does not mean they are the solution to it.

If you feel like you are losing the ability to be the “one” leader in your organization because an entrepreneur is challenging that, try asking them what they see as the problem. Once they tell you, ask them what they would do to solve the problem. Invite them into a partnership within you in seeking a solution.

Entrepreneurs are more than happy to work toward your desired outcome when they’re invited into the process. Failing to do so will only keep them isolated and trying to solve a problem they see by themselves.

That will not end well for one of you.

Check back on Friday for the fourth myth: Entrepreneurs never think small. Better yet, subscribe below, and the post will land in your inbox!