In Small Group Training, we learn about being a "faith-oriented" leader. The essential element to becoming faith-oriented is leading with the heart. A small group leader must love God, love group members, and love self as well. One of the important keys to being an outstanding leader of a small group is exhibiting a servant's heart—a passion for those the Lord has brought around you and your leadership team. So how can you create that kind of passion in the relationships within your small group? This passion is driven by shared values and defined goals.
Everything begins with the leader's values. Kouzes and Posner write, "Commitment flows from personal values." People will not put their heart into things they don't believe in. In fact, people tend to show great commitment to the things they believe in most. Look at the way people fill out their NCAA Basketball Tournament Brackets! We stress in Basic Training the importance of sharing your values with your group members. They need to know what motivates the group leader. Are they, the group members, important to the leader? Do they have value in the eyes and heart of the leader? A great key to effective group leadership is examining and having shared values within a small group. Leaders all stand for something. Leaders may be passionate about Bible knowledge. They may be people who seek to better understand end times. They may be people who love deep and articulate study. Group members need to know where they fit in the picture.
Here is a very important truth—clarity of values is the energy that makes the difference in a group member's commitment to the group. If your group members do not know your heart and passions, they may be unwilling to perform the tasks that all groups need to be successful and effective. They may exhibit sporadic attendance patterns. They may not do assigned homework in the group or show up on time. But research has shown that if a leader will define his or her values and create an understanding of the values with others in the group, the result is a more dynamic group experience whereby the group members feel a sense of commitment to the group and the leader! Value setting is more than transparent living, though that is an essential element. By setting values the leader understands the important role he or she plays in establishing an atmosphere where the heart of a leader and a group can grow together!
"Values set the stage for action…goals release the energy." Sharing and setting goals within the entire group are the second part to establishing effective heart-driven leadership. What good is goal setting in a group? Let me share what goals can do for a group.
- Goal setting helps the group flow and grow. Group members understand the direction of the small group. They know the purpose for the group and they share the values together.
- Goals remind us that we are set to do something. Whether it is to finish a study in six weeks or to serve on a short term mission. Goals remind the group that there are things to do.
- Goals help groups overcome distractions. Group distractions range from the mundane phone calls and barking dogs to misunderstandings and poor communication. Goals should be set where truth telling, a value for small groups, is practiced and expected. Minimizing distractions, especially emotionally charged issues is essential to the long term health of a group.
- Goals can be both individual and group-oriented. For example, a goal might be for each member to lead a session of the study or a time of prayer. Another example would be the desire for each group member to read through the curriculum or finish all the homework.
- Often goals may be perceived as the finish line for the group, but goals are written only as an end point. For example, "At the end of our study…" or "At the end of our group…" Goals can motivate, strengthen, and focus a group. Group leaders should remind the group often of the established goals.
The end result of living out values and focusing on goals is the feedback that the leader receives from group members. This feedback comes both as verbal—affirmation of leadership, and non-verbal—quality participation and commitment. The payoff for the leader and the group members is huge. Group members emulate what they see. In these groups, members aspire to be like the leader, and leaders aspire to be like Christ.
Leadership is a great privilege and opportunity. Make the most of it by establishing values, setting goals, and enjoying feedback.
