Do you empower your team to complete their assignments? (197-5)

Leaders can lead effectively when empowered by their organization. Read Matthew 28:18-20.

Jesus was preparing to return to the Father as He turned over the daily activity of His mission to His disciples. He had invested nearly three years in their training and now was empowering them to carry on His work. As Jesus empowered His disciples He provided leaders with some helpful principles of empowerment:

• Jesus was clear that He had the power and the authority to give to His team (v. 18).
• He clearly defined the purpose for the power He was giving them and told them how the power was to be used (v. 19-20).
• He assured them He would be there to support them (v. 20).

It is nearly impossible to lead effectively without the elements of empowerment Jesus provided for His disciples. It has been my experience that a leader is paralyzed without the support of the organization and it takes only one decision being overturned for the team to lose confidence in the leader and to then question every decision. Every team member is smart enough to know they are vulnerable to have blame shifted to them if they take actions on decisions their leader does not have the authority to make. Over the years, thousands of organizations have violated God-established principles and wasted millions of man hours because it refused to empower its leaders.

An organization cannot literally confer power on others. It can give positional authority, but it takes personal authority and some resources to effectively use power. Therefore, delegating authority without recourse does not automatically empower others. Leaders can, however supply the resources and create the conditions that allow leaders to develop the power they need to do their jobs. Effective leaders think in terms of “enablement” and “freedom” in order to empower their team.

The disciples enjoyed the assurance that Jesus stood behind them all the way, supporting them and providing what they needed for the task ahead. Similarly, leaders need assurance that the authority of their organization stands behind them. This assurance will enable a leader to lead their team effectively.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”