Ok, the title is a bit misleading. In the space of leadership, there are times where you need to create both kinds of environments. Neither philosophy is wrong. There are some specific spaces and times where each is needed. As you build a better team, there are a few realities that can help you build longevity and sustainability.
Organization's Culture
One foundational way to create longevity in your team is to identify your organization's culture. The last thing you want to do is create an equip-and-empower culture in a command-and-control organization. If you aren't aware of the differences, you could be accused of insurrection! Seriously.
But what's the difference?
Command-and-Control organizations are highly developed. Systems are in place for everything. These volunteers need to have specific guidance. Most guidance is given from upper leadership and executed through-out the lower levels of leadership. Ideas and innovation are allowed within a specific framework.
Equip-and-Empower organizations have a much more organic feel. Vision is shared without much specifics or framework. Volunteers are often recruited with ideas and dreams. Permission is given to lower levels of leadership for innovation. The sky's the limit in an equip-and-empower organization.
Before you look at one of these philosophies and wish for the other, here is what I have seen in my twenty years of ministry. In broad strokes, Equip-and-Empower is a start-up phase for an organization but slowly becomes unmanageable as the organization grows. Command-and-Control is necessary for healthy sustainability. One bedrock truth is that both philosophies need good, Godly leadership.
Your Personal Philosophy
Given that our audience in youth ministry changes every few years, many youth workers only lean toward an Equip-and-Empower philosophy. We see potential before it is realized. That's WHY we are in youth ministry! And theologically, I can make a pretty solid case for an Equip-and-Empower model. But rather than demonize one philosophy over another, I'd like to help encourage a balance of the two. Vision needs accountability. How can we, as youth workers, best balance great empowerment with healthy control in our ministry culture.
Balancing The Two
- Write a job description.
If you're an Equip-and-Empower person, this may feel like a heavy-handed move. I assure you it is not. Give a vision for what you want but put that into writing. You can have your student or volunteer help create their job description, but clearly communicate how they can WIN as you build a better team. - Evaluate regularly.
If you lean toward the Command-and-Control model, your default is to evaluate if someone has "done their job well." Equip-and-Empower tends to assess how the leader feels things are going. I've seen many volunteers and students leave ministries because people only wanted them to fill a role but didn't care for their soul. - Take suggestions to your leadership.
As you build a team, they will have IDEAS! An Equip-and-Empower default will desire to give approval to EVERY idea, but in youth ministry, we are middle managers. Take the ideas to your leadership. Don't be offended when the answer is no. On the flip-side, a Command-and-Control leadership model won't allow suggestions. Be very careful--your innovators will notice and find another place to serve where their suggestions will be heard!
WORD OF CAUTION...
I alluded to this earlier: Equip-and-Empower leadership looks like insurrection to a Command-and-Control philosophy within the organization. As a coach and consultant to youth workers, I've seen many amazing leaders fired from their jobs because they didn't see how to effectively bridge the gap. In a world where students are more educated and empowered than ever before, we need to be the leaders who effectively model adaptive leadership.
Ultimately, leadership isn't discipleship. But effectively managed leadership can be a tool for discipleship with students and volunteers. Poorly managed leadership becomes a stumbling block that trips people out of our churches and short-circuits the discipleship process. Let's be good stewards for those whom God has called us to lead.
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Wayne Morgan is the National Ministries Director for the National Network of Youth Ministries. He has served in rural and parachurch ministry, as well as a multi-site church and loves helping people discover the power of teamwork.