Five Facts About Leadership Coupons

We’re all familiar with coupons. In my case, my wife clips them, hands them to me, and expects me to use them. I’m not a big fan of them. Too often, the extremely fine print says that they’re outdated or only apply in certain stores, from three to four AM, or when there’s a full moon.

Okay. I’m being slightly sarcastic.

But I’m a big fan of leadership coupons. Leadership coupons, the clout an individual has with which he or she can inspire others to action, can be used for God’s glory. Let’s make that the first of several basic facts:

1. Leadership coupons can be used for God’s glory or for our own selfish purposes. Leadership is a morally neutral life-skill. It is well-used when influencing others to do right; it is ill-used when influencing others to do wrong. For this reason, leadership coupons need to be viewed as gifts of God and are to be handled carefully.

2. Leadership coupons, like their paper counterparts, have expiration dates. This takes discernment. There are times when you must make the suggestion, float the new idea or propose the big change, in a timely manner, or lose the opportunity to use the coupon. The old saying says “strike while the iron is hot.”

A congregation with a BP (Beloved Pastor) was on the brink of beginning a fund raising campaign and building a badly needed new building. When the pastor unexpectedly resigned, the initiative was put on hold. When the new pastor had gained some coupons, the new building was completed.

3. Leadership coupons are given to leaders and potential leaders by their followers. I’ve seen desperate persons who were leaders “in name only” angrily declare that they were going to “take the leadership.” But leadership can’t be taken. It is offered freely and must be accepted freely. Leadership that is only “positional” isn’t leadership at all.

Similarly, a leader with coupons to spare can encourage followers to grant some coupons to another would-be leader. But that’s all he can do: encourage. He can’t literally give his coupons to another or force followers to give them to someone whom they don’t trust.

4. Leadership coupons can be both earned and squandered through the good and bad actions of leaders. Loving people earns coupons. Forgiving people earns coupons. Showing calmness under pressure earns coupons. Showing grace toward troubled and troublesome persons earns coupons. Apologizing when we mess up earns coupons. Relaxing and having a good time with people earns coupons.

5. Leadership coupons are given to different leaders for different purposes. This is mysterious but true. As a transitional pastor, I’m given a sometimes surprising number of valuable coupons with which to lead churches through healing, change and reconciliation.

But there are also leadership initiatives, needed changes, for which board members or other leaders must cash in coupons which I don’t have. Toward the end of each interim pastorate, I recognize that the “new guy” to whom I hand the leadership baton is going to be given coupons which I haven’t been given, for specific, exciting, future-oriented initiatives. I have learned to accept this, and rejoice in my successor’s “new pastor” package of coupons.

• What leadership coupons have you been given by your followers or potential followers?
• Is there an expiration date on these coupons?
• What can you do to earn more coupons, to be used for the advancement of the gospel and the glory of God?
• What kinds of leadership coupons have you not been given?
• Are there ways in which you can help others gain valuable leadership coupons?