We’ve answered several questions about delegation from the story of the apostles in the early church. We looked at why we don’t delegate, why we should delegate, how we determine what to delegate and to whom we should delegate. Now, how do we delegate?

  ¹ In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:1-6, NIV).  

This passage doesn’t give many details of how to delegate but it does provide guidelines that can help us learn how to effectively delegate tasks to others.   

Delegate by clarifying the task.

“We will turn this responsibility over to them.” The apostles made it clear that the task they were handing over was the work of the distribution of food to the widows. The desired outcome was also clear—to solve the complaints about inequitable distribution. The limits of the task were also identified. The apostles were not turning over the “ministry of the word” to these new leaders.

Some leaders delegate a task without being crystal clear about the expected outcomes and limits of authority being granted. But serving leaders take time to clarify exactly what is being delegated, what outcomes are expected, and what levels of authority are being granted. 

Delegate by releasing responsibility for the task.  

The apostles said they would “turn this…over to them.” They deliberately released responsibility to the new leaders who would now be fully responsible for the distribution of food. Since the men chosen were “full of the spirit and wisdom” they were released to do the task. I love the African proverb about delegation, “If you give someone a goat, let go of the rope!”

Many leaders assign tasks to others but don’t actually release them to do the work. They constantly check on the progress or micromanage the way the work is being done—or even step back in and do it themselves. But once serving leaders have clarified the task and the level of authority granted, they release the person to do the work! 

Delegate by establishing accountability for the task.

“They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” This was a public act that demonstrated the trust and authority granted by the apostles. At the same time, it showed that while the new leaders were trusted and released to work, they were still accountable to the apostles. Releasing responsibility does not eliminate accountability.

Some leaders release tasks to others and then don’t establish clear accountability for the work. But serving leaders clarify accountability when they release authority. They proactively establish appropriate methods of reporting and assessment from the beginning.

Delegation is a powerful tool to multiply leaders in your organization. It’s not easy to do well, and every leader makes mistakes along the way. But you can learn to do it and the results will be worth the effort! (See below for a free resource that can help.)

For further reflection and discussion:

Identify a task that you should delegate to someone you lead. Then work through the questions below to develop a plan of how you will delegate the task.

Clarify the task.

• What is the task?
• What is the goal of delegating the task?
• What level of authority am I granting with the task? (Do I expect the person to follow my instructions, recommend a plan of action for my approval, or use their own judgment to complete the task?)

Release responsibility.

• When will I release the responsibility for the task to this person?
• Who else needs to know about this change of responsibility?  
• What will I do to resist the urge to step in and take the work back?           

Establish accountability.

• When will I plan to meet with the leader and review progress on the new task?
• What will I do if corrections need to be made?
• Have I clearly communicated this plan to the person you want to take on the new task?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

*For a framework to help you delegate tasks and provide the needed training and accountability for the assignment, you may find the LeadersServe DELEGATE Tool helpful. Download it here.

**If you want the entire series on delegation in one document, download a PDF here.

Of the many things I’m doing, what should I delegate? Effective leaders learn which responsibilities they need to strategically move from their plate to others on their team. Again, we can learn important lessons by observing the actions of the apostles in the early church.

 ¹In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jewsamong them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”  (Acts 6:1-4, NIV).

The passage indicates that the apostles delegated the task of distributing food. What can we learn about why they decided to delegate this work instead of something else?

Delegate tasks that are not priorities.   

The apostles said they would delegate the work of food distribution so they would not “neglect the ministry of the word.” Both tasks were good, but they recognized that if they continued doing both, the ‘ministry of the word’ would suffer. Others, at this point, could do the food distribution, but they were the only ones who could faithfully carry out the ministry of the word. And it was the ministry of the word that brought the greatest impact for the church. Every leader benefits from identifying what tasks bring the greatest return.

Some leaders delegate items they don’t enjoy doing so that others will do them. But serving leaders delegate tasks that are not priorities so they can focus on things which bring the greatest impact to their organization.

Delegate tasks that are not strengths.  

The scripture passage doesn’t say what each apostle’s strengths were, but in a group of 12 they surely were not all gifted in the administration required for providing food to the widows. The result was that the job was not done well, and the complaints revealed the need for a change. The apostles found persons who were better suited for this work and delegated it to them. Like many leaders, when the work began, they needed to do it all themselves, but as the work grew, they needed to identify the strengths of others and focus on the things they did best—in this case, teaching the word.

Some leaders hesitate to delegate to others things they don’t do well assuming that others will also do it poorly or not enjoy it. But serving leaders humbly acknowledge that they are not gifted in every area and that God has designed others to do well in these areas. They identify those strengths and delegate tasks that fit the giftings on their team.

Delegate tasks that strengthen the team.  

The seven leaders who were chosen had undeveloped potential that was not being used to the benefit of the church. They were ready and willing to do more, they just needed to be empowered by the leaders! This is true in many churches, businesses and non-profits.

Some leaders look for tasks that need to be done and find people to do them. But serving leaders look for people to develop and delegate tasks that will grow them.

For further reflection and discussion:

In the past, how have I decided what to delegate? How well did it work? What can I learn from the early church leaders about how they chose what should be delegated?

What tasks are highest priority for my leadership? (List at least 10 tasks that you do regularly and reflect on which ones bring the greatest return to your organization.  Rank them in order of what impact they bring the organization. The ones on the bottom of your list are key items to delegate.)

What tasks am I currently doing that someone else on my team could do better than I can? For each task, identify the person(s) who would do that task well. 

Reflect on two or three key members of my team. For each one, identify a task that would take them to the next level of growth and development. Develop a plan to delegate that task to them as soon as it is practical.     

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll look at how we decide to whom we delegate tasks.

If delegation is hard work and doing the work myself is easier, why should I delegate tasks to others? Consider the story from the early church:  

  ¹ In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. ⁷ So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:1-7, NIV).

We can learn several things about delegation as we reflect on this story. 

Delegation strengthens people.  

As the seven men who were selected picked up additional responsibility, they developed greater administrative skills, sharpened their communication ability and grew in their thinking and problem-solving capacity. Their leadership potential was developed because the apostles believed in them and were willing to delegate responsibilities that brought growth.

Some leaders delegate simply to get the work done and help the organization succeed. But serving leaders delegate because it helps people grow. They look for tasks that will help that person grow into their full potential.  

Delegation strengthens the organization.

“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly…” The work that was delegated by the apostles allowed strengths to function more effectively and improved the quality of the work. At the same time, it increased the impact of the early church in terms of quantity. When leaders are developed, organizations are strengthened.   

Some leaders seek to strengthen their organization by adding more people to the team. But serving leaders strengthen their organization by investing in their team. They recognize that God’s design is not for only one person to excel but for teams to function effectively as tasks are delegated to the right individuals.

Delegation strengthens the leadership pipeline.   

When the apostles added seven people to their leadership team, they now had a team of nineteen instead of twelve! Several became leaders that took the gospel out to new locations, especially when persecution broke out later. They were developing a strong leadership pipeline that would meet the current needs but also ensure that there were leaders ready to succeed them in the future.

Some leaders focus only on present needs and delegate work that needs to be done. But serving leaders delegate work to prepare others to take up leadership in the future. They recognize that there is no success without a successor.

For further reflection and discussion:

When I have delegated tasks in the past, was it primarily to get the work done or to develop people? What would change on my team if I focused more on developing people?

On my team, who is ready for an opportunity to take on more responsibility? What can I delegate to them to help them grow and develop their potential?  When will I do it?

Is there a current role I have been considering filling by finding someone outside of my organization? If so, is there anyone already in my organization who could be developed to take that role? What would be required for that to happen?

What is the current strength of my leadership pipeline? Do I have leaders ready to step into any role in my organization? Are there changes that should be made to strengthen my team in this area? What does my pipeline strength indicate about my leadership?   

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll examine what we should delegate.

Nearly all leaders know they should delegate tasks to others, but knowing and doing are two different things! In this series, we’ll examine delegation by reflecting on a time when the early church leaders learned to delegate.

1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:1-7, NIV).

The church leaders faced a problem with the distribution of food and they chose to delegate that work to seven others chosen by the people. Their delegation was not ‘dumping’ tasks on others; it was a deliberate attempt to release responsibility and power to others so that others would grow and the work would multiply.

Before we look at other elements of delegation, in this issue we’ll look at why we don’t delegate!

Delegation is hard work.

Delegation is not easy. The Twelve had to call for meetings, take time to select other leaders, give them guidance on their new assignments and check back with them to make sure things were going well.

Some leaders take the easy path and do the work themselves. But serving leaders are willing to do the hard work because they want to see others grow and the work expand.

Delegation is risky work.

The apostles had no way of knowing how successfully the new leaders would accomplish their task. Delegation of a new task always involves the risk of failure.

Some leaders refuse to risk failure, so they don’t delegate. But serving leaders recognize that while delegation is risky, it is best for long-term impact.

Delegation is painful work.

The process of deciding to delegate can be painful. Before this incident, the Twelve Apostles were in charge of everything! They were acknowledged as the leaders, and it felt good to be in charge! Their first impulse, when they recognized the problem, could have been to work harder and longer hours to get the job done. Some of the apostles probably enjoyed the work of food distribution. It may have reminded them of the times they helped Jesus distribute food and some likely loved the logistics involved. Letting go of control and tasks we enjoy can be painful realities in delegation.

Some leaders avoid the pain of delegation by doing all the work themselves. But serving leaders sacrifice their own preferences for the good of their team and the organization.

For further reflection and discussion:

• What has been my experience with delegation, either in receiving tasks delegated to me by others or in my own delegation? Has this been a mostly positive or mostly negative experience? How have these experiences impacted my own ability or willingness to delegate?
• In what ways is delegation hard for me to do? Am I so busy that I don’t have the time to invest in helping others succeed? If so, how does that impact my leadership capacity?
• In what ways is delegation risky for me in my current role? What are the fears that might keep me from delegating to others on my team? What does that indicate about my belief in the potential of the people around me?
• How painful is it for me to let go of control? In what ways is my own ego wrapped up in my leadership? How does this impact the growth of my team?
• What tasks are most painful for me to release to others? Why is it hard to allow others to do these tasks and what does it say about my own leadership?

When leaders grow other leaders, the people flourish and the organization thrives.  The primary work of every serving leader is to intentionally grow others. Jesus demonstrated this by empowering His twelve disciples.  

 ¹ When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2, NIV).

As Jesus sent out the twelve, He shifted His focus from doing the work to equipping others to carry it forward. In doing so, He demonstrated how growing others produces flourishing.

Growing leaders brings flourishing by sharing power.  

Jesus “gave them power and authority.” His mindset was not simply to use His power and authority, but to share it with those who followed Him. He shared both power and authority. He gave the disciples both the capacity to do accomplish the task (power) and the legitimate permission to act on His behalf (authority). Prior to this passage, He spent time training them and demonstrating how to do the tasks He would ask them to do. Now He gave them permission to go and implement what they had learned.

Some leaders seek to gain power and authority for themselves. But serving leaders deliberately distribute both so that others can grow and contribute. Some leaders help others grow their capacity, but don’t provide a place for them to use what they’ve learned. But serving leaders share both power and authority.

Growing leaders brings flourishing by stretching capacity.

Jesus “sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” He had demonstrated preaching and healing to them; now He asks them to go and practice! This was undoubtedly a stretching experience for the disciples. They might have wondered as they headed out, “Can I really do this?” But the confidence of Jesus in them provided the impetus for them to rise up and do what He asked. Great leaders look for opportunities to stretch the capacity of those on their team. They evaluate where each person is at and what assignment would appropriately build their capacity. Then they assign responsibilities that builds capacity and confidence on their team.

Some leaders fear that increasing responsibilities of those they lead will result in mistakes and failures. So they keep people at the same level. But serving leaders see potential in every individual and provide them with growth opportunities that will stretch their capacity and build a stronger team. They recognize that mistakes and failures are a necessary part of the growth process.

Growing leaders brings flourishing by scaling the mission.

By sending out the twelve Jesus began to scale His mission. When Jesus preached and healed His impact was limited to the places He could physically reach. But when He sent out six teams of disciples He was effectively fulfilling His mission in many locations, ultimately reaching many more people and places than He could have done alone. He recognized that if He didn’t grow His team, the work would stop when He was gone. But with a strong team empowered and prepared to do the work His impact would spread far beyond His physical presence.  

Some leaders try to increase results by working harder and faster. But serving leaders invest in the growth of their team and slowly build the capacity to scale their mission and multiply their impact.

For further reflection and discussion:

Reflect on your own leadership journey in relation to this element of growing leaders.  On a scale of 1-10 (10 is perfect) how would you rate your own leadership?   How much of my time actually goes to developing people on my team?   What portion of my time should I be spending on developing others?

How quickly do I share power and authority in my leadership? When I equip others, do I also find ways to give them platforms to use their new skills?  

How much do I believe in the potential of those I lead? How does that impact my leadership with them?

Think about the people on your team. Identify one person that is ready for a growth opportunity. Who is the person, what new responsibility are they ready to take and when will you do any needed training and empowering for this to happen?

In addition to the scripture used in this issue, reflect on the following verses from the life of Jesus: Matthew 10:1-15, 14:16, 16:19, 21:1-3, 26:38-41, 28:18-20; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 6:12, 9:1-6, 22:8-13; John 20:21-23 and 21:15-17. What additional insights do you find?            

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

If you want a document containing all six issues of this series, click here.

*Note: This series is based on The LeadersServe Culture which is designed to help people flourish and organizations thrive. This happens when leaders serve. The LeadersServe Culture training provides an in depth look at each of these elements with practical exercises to clarify, communicate, and cultivate each one into the life of your organization. For more information about this model and other training resources visit www.LeadersServe.com

Effective leaders grow the people around them and continually delegate more and more responsibility to their teams. This builds leadership depth and prepares the organization for the time that they will no longer be the leader. Faith leaders take a long-term perspective to their work believing that God’s design is for one generation to build on the foundation of the previous.  The Serving Leader Model® (*see note) calls this action Upend the Pyramid, to reflect the way serving leaders turn the traditional leadership model upside down. Paul demonstrated this action in so many ways. Consider these examples:

He [Paul] was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia (Acts 20:4, NIV). 

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (Titus 1:5)

¹⁴ I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so no one can say that you were baptized in my name (1 Corinthians 1:14-15)

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).

Paul grew his people. 

Paul was hardly ever alone in his work; he always traveled with a team, sometimes as many as 8 others (Acts 20:4 mentions 7 plus Luke who was writing). What was his goal? He was deliberately growing people and strengthening his team. He selected people in whom he saw potential and then grew them into strong leaders.  He poured significant time and energy into writing detailed instructions to Timothy and Titus to help them grow as leaders.

Some leaders prefer to work alone and take pride in their personal achievements. Serving leaders, like Paul, grow others around them and boast that others are doing the work! 

Paul delegated authority and responsibility.

Paul continually delegated authority and responsibility to his team as fast as they were capable. He first baptized 2 or 3 in Corinth; then others did the rest. He first appointed elders in the churches; but later sent Titus to do the same in Crete. He sent Timothy to Ephesus, Corinth and Thessalonica. He empowered Titus to handle a significant financial contribution for the church in Jerusalem.

Some leaders believe that the only way to get something done right is to do it themselves. But serving leaders see the potential in others. They delegate power and authority and rejoice to see the work expand far beyond what they are able to do alone.

Paul prepared for sustainability and scalability.  

Paul’s vision was huge; he wanted to reach the world. He knew that he could not accomplish this alone and needed strong leaders to help him. He knew it would take much longer than his own lifetime to accomplish. So he grew others and delegated authority and responsibility. He challenged Timothy to pass it on to the next generation of leaders. By these actions Paul ensured that his vision would expand exponentially and continue on long after he was gone. We are a testimony to the success of his model.

Some leaders fail to reflect on what will happen after they are gone. But serving leaders turn the pyramid upside down and prepare their team to not only survive but to thrive for generations to come. 

For further reflection and discussion:

Am I willing to invest the time and energy that Paul did to model the way, encourage and train others to do the work I now do? How will this impact my leadership legacy?

What is my plan to grow the people I lead? Who on my team is ready for greater responsibility and authority? What is needed from me to make this happen?

What would happen today to my team if I was gone? Are they ready to thrive without me? If not, what is needed to prepare them for that time? Reflect on what happened when Paul was imprisoned for years and how his leadership model laid a foundation for continued growth without his presence. How can I prepare my team in the same way?

In addition to the scriptures used in this issue, read and reflect on how the following passages also illustrate how Paul acted to Upend the Pyramid: Acts 14:23, 18:18-26, 19:21-22;  1 Corinthians 16:10-11; 2 Cor. 8:16-24; Ephesians 4:11-13, 6:21-22; Philippians 2:19-30; Colossians 4:7-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2, 6; 1 Timothy 1:3, Titus 1:5. 

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll look at a new series!

*Note: The Five Actions of Serving Leadership were recognized by Dr. John Stahl-Wert and illustrated in the book The Serving Leader. These actions have been applied by many organizations to integrate serving leadership into everyday leadership practices. See www.CenterforServingLeadership.com for more information.

If you would like all five issues of this series on Paul, click here for a PDF copy.

A shepherd is the most common biblical image of leadership. Shepherds are tasked with the responsibility to guide and protect the flock under their care which is a great picture of leadership. Yet, not all shepherds (leaders) lead as true shepherds. Consider Ezekiel’s words:

¹The word of the LORD came to me: ²“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? ³You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. ⁴You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. ⁵So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. ⁶My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them (Ezekiel 34:1-6, NIV).

Ezekiel spoke for God and delivered His rebuke to the leaders of the nation. In doing so he revealed different ways shepherds can lead.

Shepherds see leadership either to benefit self or others.  

The accusation against these leaders was that they were using the flock to care for their own needs. “Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?” The leaders were enjoying the meat, the wool, and the milk from the flock. God does not say that these things should not be enjoyed, but when the focus of the leaders was only on themselves it was wrong. Instead, they should have been focused on strengthening the weak and taking care of the sick and injured. God rebukes them because they “have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost.”  If they would have strengthened the flock, they could have enjoyed a good lamb dinner. But when they focused on the dinner, they destroyed the flock.  

Some leaders are continually focused on how they will benefit from their position but serving leaders use their position for the benefit of others.  Some leaders ask “What’s in it for me?” but serving leaders say, “I’m in it for you!”

Shepherds use leadership either to display their own power or empower others.

Another accusation God makes is, “You have ruled them harshly and brutally.”  These shepherds abused their power and used it to rule harshly. They showed no concern for the well-being of the sheep. Many leaders use their leadership role to let everyone know who’s the boss! They see care and compassion as signs of weakness instead of strength. But serving leaders are in power to empower. They use their authority to give authority to others. They show genuine care for those they lead.

Shepherds demonstrate leadership that scatters or unites others.

 God describes the impact of the poor leadership on His people, “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,…”  Without adequate leadership, the sheep were lost and started wandering to other places. They looked elsewhere for direction and guidance and ultimately scattered. Some leaders use their power to “divide and conquer” people.  They allow and encourage mistrust, petty gossip and division, believing that they will be more powerful when others are divided. But serving leaders use power to bring people together in ways that unite them. They believe strength comes from strong teams united around a common vision and goal.

As a leader, you are like a shepherd. What kind of shepherd will you choose to be?

For further reflection and discussion:

• What benefits do I enjoy as a leader? (List everything you think about, tangible and intangible items.) Then reflect on these questions:
  • Do I lead because of these benefits or do I lead because of what I can do for others?
  • Do the benefits I receive cause me to focus more on my own needs and desires than on those of the people I lead?
• How do I use the power I have? How quickly do I share power with others? What is the result in my leadership? (Reflect on a leadership action you took in the past week as you answer these questions.)
• Do I lead most naturally with the mentality of “divide and conquer” or “our unity is our strength”? What have I done in the past week to demonstrate this?  
• Read the rest of this chapter (34) in Ezekiel and look for additional insights into the impact poor leaders have on others.         

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll look at how leaders follow.

November 13, 2024

Paul’s description of a thriving body that grows and becomes stronger and stronger is a powerful image for any organization and a healthy model for any leader to follow.

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:11-16). 

In this scripture, Paul describes a thriving world. We have already looked at the actions of clarifying and embedding the vision, values and mission and building teams on strengths. In this final issue, we focus on how serving leaders share their power with others. The Serving Leader Model® calls this “Upend the Pyramid” as this concept turns the traditional model of leadership upside down! Serving leaders spread their power.

Serving leaders spread the power by delegating.

Paul says that the work of the leaders is to “equip his [God’s] people for works of service.” Many leaders see their work as doing the work. They work hard and demonstrate how much they can do. They insist on doing the work themselves and want to keep all the power. But serving leaders realize that the work of leadership is to delegate power to others who are called to do the work. They recognize that they are in power to empower others. Their work is to serve those doing the work. They reflect on what tasks they are doing that others could do. Then they delegate that work to others and give them the corresponding authority.   

Serving leaders spread the power by equipping others.

Delegating releases power to others; equipping trains them to do the work well. Some leaders assign tasks to others but assume that they’ll learn how to do it on their own. But serving leaders spend more and more of their time equipping others. They recognize that as they grow others, they are developing other leaders not simply followers. As they do so they are also growing an organization where people thrive.

Serving leaders spread the power by preparing for succession.  

When leaders are spreading the power, growing and developing others around them, they are effectively preparing the organization for the time that they will no longer be in the leadership role. Some leaders work hard with little thought to what will happen after they are gone. But serving leaders prepare for the long-term success of their organization by delegating responsibility, sharing their power and equipping others to do the work. Little by little the organization becomes mature and able to thrive even in their absence. Where leaders spread the power people thrive!

For further reflection and discussion:

-Reflect on your own leadership in the areas of delegation and empowering others. How effectively does my leadership release power? How does my leadership in this area impact the thriving of our team?

-When is the last time I delegated something to others? Was it primarily to develop them or to avoid doing the work myself? Did I clearly articulate what I expected from them and what level of authority I was giving them? What was the result and what can I learn from it?

-How much of my time is spent doing the work and how much time is spent equipping others to work? What can I do to increase the time I spend on equipping others?  

-What would happen in my organization if I was suddenly gone? Would it survive? Thrive? What does this say about my leadership and what can I do to better prepare for the time I will be gone?

-Read again the scripture above (Ephesians 4:11-16) considering your organization in the area of empowering others. What is one step you can take this week to improve?            

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll look at a new series!

Click here for a resource from Center for Serving Leadership to help you in this area: UTP Empowerment Planner Complete A4 v.17

Serving leadership produces thriving in people, organizations, communities and nations. But serving leadership is costly! Leaders who seek to serve consciously and consistently need to release things that are difficult to give up. Jesus talked about the “kings of the Gentiles” as typical leaders but called His disciples to a radically different form of leadership which we call serving leadership. In the previous issue we focused on how the disciples, like most leaders, were looking for positions. Jesus called His disciples to release that to serve.  Power is the second area Jesus calls His disciples to release.

²⁴A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves (Luke 22:24-26, NIV).

Jesus’ observation that the Gentile leaders “lord it over them” and “exercise authority over them” highlights their desire for power and authority.

Serving leaders release power as a right.

All leadership roles come with power and authority. The Gentile leaders assumed they had every right to this power. They had likely worked hard to get into the position they occupied and so were not hesitant to use their power for their own advantage. As leaders they were “over them.” They expected people to instantly obey their every command and were ready to remind everyone of the power they possessed. So they lorded it over those they led and exercised authority over them. Power was their right. To this leadership approach Jesus tells His disciples, “You are not to be like that.” Jesus was not telling the disciples that they would not have power, in fact He strategically gave them power and authority (see Matthew 28:19-20). But He was calling them to release their right to have power. They were not called to “lord it over” but to serve. Some leaders see power as their right but serving leaders see power as a gift to serve others.

Serving leaders reject power as a measure.

Typical leaders see their level of power as a measure of their success. The more they have, the better they feel. They are quick to ask others, “Did you see how people moved when I told them….?” But Jesus says, “the one who rules” should be like “the one who serves.” Serving leaders reject power as a measure of their success or worth. Instead, they measure how well they are serving those they lead.  

Serving leaders receive power as stewards.  

The Gentile leaders saw their power as something to be exercised for their own advantage, it was their right. They had worked for their power and would now use it to further their own objectives. But serving leaders see power as a gift given to them for a greater purpose, to serve the organization, their teams, their customers and others. Their role is to properly steward the power entrusted to them. They do not focus on power over others but power for others. Paul is a great example of this attitude when he writes in 2 Corinthians 10:8, “the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down…” As a steward of the power received from the Lord, he focused on using that power to build others.

For further reflection and discussion:

• What power do I have in my current role? (Reflect on the power your role carries with it and how your power is different than those under your leadership.) 
• What is my heart attitude towards my power? Do I see it as something I have earned or as a gift? Am I ever tempted to let others know the power I hold by asking, “Don’t you know I am the boss?” How has this impacted my ability to influence others?  
• If I view my power as a gift entrusted to me to serve others, how will that be reflected in the way I lead this week? How will it be reflected when I face opposition to my leadership?  
• As a serving leader am I ever tempted to not use power because I’m afraid I might misuse it? What might Jesus say to me about that?    

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll examine how serving leaders pay the price of giving up prestige.  

The final action of the Serving Leader Model® is Upend the Pyramid. At the heart of serving leadership is a radically different approach that does not focus on self and personal gain. Serving leaders instead focus on serving the mission of the organization, the people who are a part of the organization, and those served by the organization. Serving leadership turns the traditional model of leadership upside down—they Upend the Pyramid.  

Nehemiah demonstrated serving leadership as he built the wall in Jerusalem and strengthened the city.  He refused to take some of the perks of his role in order to relieve the people of a tax burden (see Nehemiah 5:14-19). Also, consider these glimpses of how his leadership upended the pyramid.  

¹After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. ²I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do (Nehemiah 7:1-2, NIV).  

The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people— (Nehemiah 12:38, NIV). 

⁶But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission ⁷and came back to Jerusalem….(Nehemiah 13:6-7a).   

Serving Leaders Upend the Pyramid by delegating authority  

Nehemiah “put in charge…” two men to lead the city and appointed gatekeepers, musicians and Levites. Nehemiah was clearly delegating authority and power to others rather than keeping control of everything himself. Some leaders are reluctant to release power to others but serving leaders focus on releasing rather than keeping power. They delegate carefully and clearly. They recognize that they are in charge to charge others up!   

Serving Leaders Upend the Pyramid by developing people  

As the choir celebrated the great achievement of building the wall, Nehemiah “followed them.” Nehemiah was in the rear by design. He had called for the celebration and delegated authority to musicians and Levites. Now he watched others lead the way and cheered them on from behind. His heart was to see others develop and rise in their own leadership capacity. This development of others extended far beyond helping them learn how to put stones on the wall, he wanted to see them mature as people and as leaders.  

Most leaders assume that they must lead from the front and be the most visible person on the team. They naturally call attention to themselves. But serving leaders are content to cheer from behind, smiling with contentment as they help others grow and develop.  

Serving Leaders Upend the Pyramid by disappearing by design  

“I was not in Jerusalem.” After the wall was built Nehemiah went back to Babylon for some time. Certainly, there were official duties that he needed to fulfill. But Nehemiah was also making space for others to rise up and lead. He was, by design, preparing others to take over his leadership role. Some leaders cannot imagine a time that they will not be in charge and they don’t prepare others for the day they will be gone. But serving leaders understand from the beginning that their own leadership role will one day end. They serve the organization by ensuring that others are prepared to take over at that time. A part of that preparation is intentionally stepping away at times to let others grow and develop. 

For further reflection and discussion: 

• In what ways am I tempted to do things myself rather than delegate? In what ways have I delegated authority recently? Are there ways that I delegate responsibilities and then don’t give others the power to carry it out? Do I keep an appropriate level of accountability with those I empower?  
• Who on my team could be developed to a higher level of responsibility? What steps will I take to deliberately develop them?  
• What am I doing to prepare my team for success after I am no longer the leader? Would it be helpful for them if I disappeared for a time? What do I need to do to better prepare for succession?  
• Read the story of Nehemiah and reflect on other ways that he demonstrated this action, Upend the Pyramid. What do you observe from his life and in what way can you follow his example?     

Nehemiah was not a perfect leader, but he served well and demonstrated all Five Actions of Serving Leadership.       

Until next time, yours on the journey, 

Jon Byler 

In the next issue, we’ll begin a new series!  

Finally, as a gift to you, Click Here to download one tool to help you put this action into practice in your organization. For more information about The Five Actions of Serving Leadership read the book, The Serving Leader, or visit www.CenterforServingLeadership.com.

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