5 Things You Control as a Senior Leader

Having planted two churches and two revitalization churches, I am frequently asked about what things do I try to control and which did I release to others.

And, I love that question. I think its one all leaders need to ask themselves—frequently. The leadership lid you will always create is in whatever area you choose to control. I believe this strongly and it’s why I often discipline myself not to have an answer. I purposely choose to give things away to others on our team—things they can’t do better than me and things I simply shouldn’t be doing. As much as I love delegation, however, there are some things I feel the need to control—maybe even continue to control. Here are five things I control as a senior leader: Vision – I believe senior leadership should make sure the vision of the organization is always in the minds of people, therefore I must continually reinforce it in what I say and do. Staff culture – Senior leadership—always, but especially in the early days—plays a primary role in setting the culture. Things such as staff morale, approach to structure and the working atmosphere are greatly embedded and formed by the senior leader. The organization’s pursuit of excellence – People will never push for more excellence than the level expected, led and lived by senior leadership. The moral value of the organization – The character and integrity of the organization will reflect senior leadership’s character and integrity. Period. The velocity of change – Senior leadership sets the speed in which change and innovation is welcome in the organization. As a leader, I realize the less I control, the more I can allow others to lead. The result is a healthier, happier organization that is more prone for growth. There are things, such as the above, that by default and for their importance, senior leadership should control. If control seems to harsh a word then choose another, but these should not be delegated too far beyond the ability to guide them. This article originally appeared here.