What Pastor Clayton Baird Taught Me About Leadership
I have been privileged to serve as a leader in my church for almost 11 years now. During this time, I've seen thousands of lives impacted and changed; my own life included. It's been an honor to serve alongside high level leaders/pastors; and to learn from them along the way. With that said, this post is about a specific pastor that I served with named Clayton Baird.For two years, I had the opportunity to serve under Clayton Baird's leadership. I will say this about Clayton, he is an amazing pastor, but an even more amazing leader. Recently I was going through my notes from the 2 years that he was leading the ministry that we were part of together. I learned more about leadership from Clayton during these 2 years than I ever had before!
Today, straight from my iPhone notes, I want to share my top 10 favorite leadership principles that I learned from Clayton Baird:
1. Walk in Humility
Humility in leadership is like a timeless piece of clothing; it is always in style. Humble leaders wear an attitude of gratitude. God doesn't make leaders; God makes humble servants that turn into leaders.
2. Don't Seek Promotion
All promotion comes from God. You do what is right for the right reasons, and He will do the rest. God sees the labor of your hands; even if no one else does.
3. Lead Yourself First
Jesus led himself by getting to that quiet place to receive from God. Our relationship with God needs to be the focus in leading ourselves. Are people inspired to follow God by watching the way you live?
4. Develop Culture
In your life, you will have what you allow. Culture is not found, it is built. If you are missing something in your life, whether in business or ministry, you cannot just wish for it, you must take ownership to build (develop) the atmosphere that you desire.
5. Build Your Platform
Great leaders don't inherit big platforms they build them. We need to give our best in what we are doing. What you do today is what causes your platform to grow.
WHAT MAKES A TRUE LEADER? Read the post: A Leader Is One Who Knows the Way Goes the Way and Shows the Way
6. Focus on The Team
Teamwork makes the dream work! Good leadership isn't about advancing yourself it's about advancing the team. The best teams are made up of a bunch of nobodies that love everyone. When people feel liked, cared for, trusted and encouraged, they'll work together. Be creative in how you encourage others on your team.
7. Empower Others
Good leaders become great because of their ability to empower others, not themselves. Ask yourself, "How can I empower others to step up?" Empowering others is key in great leadership. Empower others to take ownership and to lead in their own way, not in your way.
8. Always Cast Vision
Don't expect people to know the vision; always vocalize it. Cast vision all the time! Make sure the team feels valued within the vision. You must care for people before they will hear the vision. People will buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.
9. Duplicate Yourself
Leaders are measured by the caliber of leaders they develop, not by their own leadership. Are you duplicating yourself? Replace yourself before you ever leave a position.
10. Be Passionate
Passion causes people to bring excellence. Passion will cause you to overcome any obstacle in your path toward success. Single mindedness on a team comes from passion. 3 Things passion brings: Passion brings purpose. Passion brings vision. Passion brings a 'can-do' attitude.[easy-tweet tweet="Humility in leadership is like a timeless piece of clothing; it is always in style." user="claytondbaird" usehashtags="no" template="qlite"]Clayton Baird didn't just teach these principles that I have listed, he modeled them for the entire team that served with him. I learned how to really walk in these leadership principles by observing the way Clayton lived, not by listening to him! Clayton is now serving as a lead pastor at a growing church in Northern Ireland and I know that he is modeling what it means to be a true leader to the people around him.