Well, I wrote this past month for The Rubicon, a great ezine edited by Geoff Ryan (one of my favourite writers) and wow, did I stir up a can of worms. Well, The Rubicon is not the kind of ezine where topics are glossed over. Rather it’s to the point, in your face and a bit on the edge. So, with that in mind, I called it as I see it. Where have all of the leaders gone – specifically Salvation Army officers? Where are the new recruits? What’s with the decline in people going into full time ministry – it’s not just a Salvation Army phenomenon. Well, you can read what I said here:
http://therubicon.org/2009/03/the-shrinking-pool/
I’d be interested in hearing what you think on this subject.
grace… Kathie
Kathie,
My wife and I attend a Salvation Army church in the inner city and in my work I provide Executive Search consulting in the not-for-profit sector including Christian organizations.
In my opinion, one of the challenges that many organizations face is that leaders don’t know when to leave. Many, though not all leaders, hang on to their leadership role but have done nothing to initiate succession planning or mentoring programs in their organization. Then, when it comes time for them to go (either by choice or not) there is no internal candidate ready to take their place.
The mere fact that we are experiencing a major demographic shift with the Boomer generation leaving the marketplace should be enough cause for organizations to prepare succession plans (though it’s getting late in the game). Sadly, some will not and they will find themselves asking, “Where have all the leaders gone.?
Thanks for the comment, David. I agree with you. We must begin to look for those in our various centres in whom we can nurture leadership potential. Otherwise we will be leaving ourselves in a ridiculous position. We must pray for God to bring us potential leaders and then pray like crazy that we do a good job of mentoring them.