Leadership Development is a 2-Way Street
Jaylin Chacon / Quest Church Seattle
by Dave Miller
Leadership Pathway is a great name for an organization. I can’t remember who came up with it, but it wasn’t me. We probably should have called it some mysterious one word that means something deep that we would have to explain over and over, but as I recall we needed something to call it to file some paperwork or something on an afternoon in 2016…and it was born.
But in our work with churches to find, support and develop the next generation of leaders I think perhaps future employers could get a skewed idea of what we mean.
At the end of a leadership pathway is not a nirvana where young twenty-somethings “finally get it right, get on our page, grow up, and learn how to act” as we channel our inner dad just wishing everyone would get in line and act like US.
We should think of a leadership pathway more like a two-way street of influence where the student may at times becomes the teacher.
A leadership residency isn’t “just for gen Z” it’s for US - the boomers, busters, and Millenials in leadership. We have a lot to learn.
Take my friend Jaylin for example. She’s led the way in my own life in more ways than she actually knows. When I need a book to read or a challenging podcast to listen to…she’s one of my go to sources. The materials she sends my way are not the same cliche corporate leadership stuff that I have read since I was her age. It’s deeply challenging material on issues like whiteness, gender, theology, and influence.
Twenty-something leaders like her aren’t the future…they’re now.
I’m mindful at the start of the pandemic how many churches were turning the rachet on going digital, and it was primarily my peers, and those older, doing the talking. Every time i got a question about it i was thinking “do you not have a person younger than 25 who is a digital native at the table?”
(you can hear from her on our own podcast with Sean HERE by the way)
When I was Jaylin’s age my boss was a super old 35-year-old. In those days we talked about a generational gap. That gap is a canyon and we still have much to learn. I know I do. I’m thankful to be in the influence of Jaylin, Brittany, Dillon, Gabby and countless others that I am privileged to learn from.
You can do this too! If you are struggling to get young twenty-somethings to the table please reach out let’s begin the conversation of what a Leadership Pathway could be like for your organization.