Are you looking for a leader for your church, ministry, or organization? Make sure that along with things you do look for in a leader, you do not pick a leader based on the following six characteristics.

Oh, and I learned all of the following the hard way. At one point or another, I allowed people to be leaders based on one or more of the following characteristics, and lived to regret it.

How to Pick a Leader You’ll Live to Regret

1. Pick a leader based on how much money they give to the church.
2. Pick someone who has lots of influence in the city or in the church. (Note: Though leadership is influence, Godly leadership requires Godly influence.)
3. Pick a leader simply based on who wants to be one. (Note: Yes, it’s okay to desire leadership (1 Tim 3:1), but it seems that most who desire it are power hungry.)
4. Pick leaders based on who is initially very supportive of you. (Note: If they show up in church one day, and are supportive and encouraging…and want to be a leader, watch out!)
5. Pick a leader based on how talented they are at something you desperately need in church (like music, or children’s ministry).
6. Pick a leader because they talk a lot about their leadership skills. (Note: Leaders listen more than they talk, and are not proud or boastful.)

Now, after weeding out leaders with these six “disqualifiers” if there is anybody left in our “potential leadership pool” … Congratulations! You’ve found your leader!

And always remember … it’s okay to be “leaderless.”

After all, if we have no leaders, it forces us to look to Jesus as our leader. And He does okay…

Still need a bit more help looking for leaders? Here is my main suggestion: If you are looking for leaders, the best place to look is in the silent servants of the church. Who shows up and just serves, not looking for recognition or glory? These may make you best leaders.

We have “Servant Leadership” backwards. We think that “servant leadership” means that leaders should serve. Actually, when we look at what Jesus teaches about “servant leadership” He is saying that servants should lead and that leaders should be taken from the servants. So you want to find leaders? Look to the servants.

Don’t ask your leaders to serve. Instead, ask your servants to become leaders.