Lateral Leadership
By Kevin Spratt
Many people limit leadership ability to positional authority. What do I mean about positional authority? Someone who has the ability to issue directives and enforce consequences if those directives aren’t followed is someone with positional authority. Typically, we think of our boss’s as positional leaders but it can extend to someone like a parent, mentor or someone designated to give direction like a student ministry volunteer.
In both my personal and professional career I have been fascinated with the concept of leadership and discipleship. Wherever I have been I have had a desire to provide vision and guidance. I hunger to serve and to be placed in positions of responsibility. I have been graced to serve in all types of roles as a director/leader, but also as a servant/volunteer/detail person. I have served in organizations of 50 and 5,000. What I have observed over the years is that the majority of leadership doesn’t happen via directives from boss’s but laterally when co-workers or volunteers come together for a common purpose. More work is done laterally in any given organization than is done directionally.
The most successful contributors in an organization will understand how to lead laterally because they understand the value of working together and that more can be accomplished faster when everyone works together. This is a lesson not just for the worker/volunteer but also for the leader because everyone has to lead laterally. In every organization there is someone you report to and someone you work with. Even as a manager or ministry director there are peers you have to work with to accomplish common goals.
I have observed 4 common traits of effective lateral leaders:
- Relationship Driven (Colossians 3:12)
Lateral Leaders understand the value of relationships. That because they need others to get work done they must maintain great working relationships with the people they regularly encounter in their work. There is a certain economy to these relationships.
- Humble (James 4:6)
Lateral Leaders understand that their gifts are no more significant than the gifts of those they serve with. They understand that each person they serve with plays an equal role in completing the task.
- Servant (Matthew 20:20-28)
They see the needs of others before their own needs. Lateral Leaders understand that in order for them to be most effective they must also consider the needs of others first. If everything has to work together their needs must no supersede the needs of others.
- Reliable (Luke 16:10)
A lateral leader is the most prepared person on the team. They have answers to questions before they are asked, they are always on time, and are completely trustworthy.
A lateral leader understands that they are most effective when they are able to work with others. The key to lateral leadership is serving those around you.
Kevin Spratt is the Lead Content Specialist for Ministry Grid at LifeWay.