Leadership Altitude - Leading at the Right Level
Align the Level of Your Leadership with the Right Altitude of Your Conversations
When leadership conversations do not match their appropriate altitude, chaos and frustration can ensue:
Leadership Teams Stay in the Weeds | If senior leaders are stuck discussing weekly issues, they neglect the broader vision, leaving the church directionless.
Departments Lack Strategy | When departments only think week-to-week, they fail to develop initiatives that drive lasting progress.
Volunteers Feel Overwhelmed | When all layers above are sucked into the immediate needs, team members are given little to no vision and simply delegated tasks without understanding the true purpose. Resulting in low buy-in and ownership.
The key to overcoming this challenge is to check and align the altitude of your conversations. Each level of leadership in your church has a specific perspective and vantage point, and each serves a unique purpose. When these perspectives are aligned and intentionally managed, your team can move from simply managing the urgent to driving meaningful, Kingdom-impacting outcomes.
NOTE: These are not frequencies that they meet, but the scope of time they are thinking, discussing, and planning when they do meet!
LEADERSHIP/DIRECTIONAL TEAM:
Think in terms of Semesters or Seasons
Leadership teams, such as senior staff and/or executive pastors, should keep the focus of their conversations on the big picture and long-term vision of the church. This perspective ensures that the mission and direction remain clear and compelling.
VANTAGE POINT: Think in terms of the next 6-12 months.
FOCUS AREAS: Vision casting, culture alignment, people development, strategic planning, and resource allocation.
KEY QUESTIONS:
Where is God leading our church?
What discussions and decisions around our culture, people, systems, or strategies are necessary to address?
DEPARTMENT LEAD (DIRECTOR):
Think in terms of Quarters or Months
Department leaders—such as those overseeing worship, youth, outreach, or Guest experience—should focus on strategic initiatives and goals that align with the church’s overall direction. Their role bridges the gap between the big picture and day-to-day ministry.
VANTAGE POINT: Think in terms of the next 3-6 months.
FOCUS AREAS: Program planning, budget stewardship, team development, and ministry-specific strategies.
KEY QUESTIONS:
What goals must we achieve this quarter?
How do our initiatives align with the church’s broader vision?
MINISTRY AREA LEAD (COORDINATOR):
Think in terms of this Month
Volunteer leaders overseeing specific ministry areas—such as a small group demographic, greeters, or connections—should focus on planning and preparation within a monthly timeframe. This ensures that ministry efforts are intentional and well-executed.
VANTAGE POINT: Think in terms of the next 4-6 weeks.
FOCUS AREAS: Scheduling, team communication, curriculum planning, and resource management.
KEY QUESTIONS:
What needs to be prepared, communicated, or scheduled to execute what’s on the horizon for this ministry area?
MINISTRY TEAMS (TEAM LEADER):
Think in terms of this Week
Volunteers serving on ministry teams should focus on execution and quality control within a weekly timeframe. This level of leadership ensures the day-to-day ministry activities are carried out with excellence. They are the boots on the ground, making game-time decisions and should be empowered and equip to do so within the culture set
VANTAGE POINT: Think in terms of the next 7 days.
FOCUS AREAS: Setup, execution, problem-solving, and creating meaningful experiences for those being served.
KEY QUESTIONS:
What needs to happen this week to ensure our ministry is effective and welcoming?
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
I want to encourage you to take the time to make the turn. Start by assessing whether your team’s discussions match their appropriate altitude. Consider these practices:
Set Clear Expectations: Communicate to each leadership level the perspective they need to maintain.
Equip Your Leaders: Provide training and tools to help leaders operate effectively at their level.
Structure Your Meetings: Create agendas that focus conversations on the correct timeframe.
Revisit Regularly: Periodically review your alignment to ensure teams remain focused and balanced.
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