Visionary vs. Relational Leadership Styles

A couple of months ago I sat around a table with 10 American pastors talking about leadership. Half the pastors talked about the importance of vision. The other half talked about the importance of relationships.

Some ministries value vision; others value relationships.

Healthy ministries must value both.

Too many visionary leaders leave a trail of body bags in their wake, and too many relational leaders don’t accomplish much besides a feel-good experience.

Vision and relationships - if anyone figures out how to do both at the same time, please let me know.

It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.  - Ecc 7:18

Comments

[Jason]

The church I got saved into was so great for about the first year until the visionary pastor and the relational pastor couldn't get along anymore and the relational pastor moved across town to start another church. He left all the visionary people and took all the relational people with him. I stuck around in the visionary church which was not as fun to be in anymore. My friend went to the other church and had plenty of good times but they didn't seem to get much done.

Maybe what leaders need is just enough humility to recognize that whatever they build alone will suck compared to what they can build together with someone who complements and covers their weaknesses.

[Keith Tower]

Just left a conference where Shawn Lovejoy shared a similar thought with 2 types of leaders from the David and Goliath story. At the time, Saul was a soldier (visionary taking a hill) and David was a shepherd (relational). Both use different armors and approaches to victory and both are needed in the Kingdom today.

[joey bonifacio]

The job of a church leader is to create a culture and an atmosphere that mixes both Vision and Relationships. Fact is people will willingly embrace both - Vision because it is exciting - Relationships because it feels good. But in the end both need serious work. Both need lots of work. Vision needs to be worked. Relationships are no different. Both are enjoyable work. Both are fulfilling work.

More importantly I am convinced that both are the reasons why churches (and organizations, including families) grow. The key lies in discipline. And discipline has very little to do with styles but is all about getting the job done.

All too often leaders settle for what they are used to, their wiring, gifting, default style and worse of all what's convenient. Visionaries should work on relationships. Relational leaders should work on being visionary.

[Brent Garrard]

I couldn't agree more with the need to have the "twins of ministry." I so desperately want to do both well. It truly is the only way to do ministry effectively, for the long-haul. Everyone else has said it well in their replies, but when you get to the end of your life you can either be lonely, worn out, bummed at the lack of action in your life, or satisfied for a job well done because you found a way to balance these two vital ingredients.

[Ef]

Vision doesn't grow apart from good relationships. For me, the ones who grasp the vision first are the ones who belong to the family. The stronger and bigger the relationship ties are, the stronger and bigger the vision get.

Leadership is influence. And influence is a relational concept. "People wouldn't care much about what you know, until they know how much you care."

And the highest form of leadership is not when people follow you as an authority figure or as someone who "knows it all," but when they follow you for who you are.

And who we really are is best revealed in no other way than building good relationships.

*I should be telling this to myself. :D*

[Gene]

i love the verse! it also teaches us to have a balance life and not to be too extreme with everything that we hear or believe in.