Leadership from the Sidelines
I’ve never been accused of (a) being a sports fan, (b) being all that knowledgeable about sports, or (c) having the ability to use a sportsing illustration as a jumping off point. So the following experiment should be … uh … interesting, to say the least. Go team!
In my limited knowledge of the professional sports world, there are four types of people who sit in the stands, stand on the sidelines, or bum around in the bleachers. And these four types have a not-so-surprising correlation to the types of leaders we often find in church world:
1. Cheerleader
At a game, the cheer squad has one job: to hype the players and the crowd. Working from a set list of cheers and routines, the only game commentary they offer is one of encouragement. They are way more rah rah and way less real-time feedback.
2. Faithful fan
Found in most pro sporting events, the faithful fan has a closet full of team gear. They may have season tickets. They know that players and coaches come and go, but their enduring fandom lives forever. They’re committed to the organization through the good years and bad, and they will freely offer their unsolicited opinion and obligatory adoration, depending on which year is which. They might be loyal, but they’re often inconsistent.
3. Professional critic
I would argue that the professional critic is a paid version of the faithful fan, just with more skin and salary in the game. They don’t have the luxury of being a fair-weather fan, their job depends on the latest hot take on the new recruit or the aging quarterback or the worn-out coaching staff, and how if x team would just do y, that would fix all the problems. In other words, they assume that their worlds move worlds.
4. Coach
Here’s the thing about the first three types of sideline people: they don’t really matter. I’m sorry, cheerleader, fan, and critic, but you don’t matter. Not in the moment, anyway. There’s one voice that should rise above the cheers and jeers, the ooohs and boooos, and that’s the voice of the coach. The players should look to and hear from the one voice that can move the needle, who is gunning for their best interest, who is watching all the moving parts on the field or the court and reacting accordingly.
So here’s the question for us, church leaders: which of the four types of sideline people are we? Are we a cheerleader, with a preset list of unfounded attaboys? A faithful fan, who knows that volunteers come and go and the organization can ebb and flow, and we endure no matter what? A professional critic, who simply seems to exist to point out the problems?
Or are we a coach, who truly wants what is best for the players and the organization? Who can slap ’em on the back or get up in their face, depending on the day or the moment? Who sees all the pieces and all the players and isn’t just looking for points, but for progress?
Here’s the difference between a coach and those other three: the coach brings proximity and accountability. Because when the game is over and the stands are empty, there’s one type of leader heading to the locker room, climbing on the bus, and starting it all over at the next day’s practice. Not just showing up for the event, but investing in a life.
So the question: which leader are you?
