Leadership Looking at "Groups within Groups"

How do we handle when there are groups within the group. What can we expect to see as the results of those inner social structures. Are they good, bad or indifferent? What is our role as leader to this phenomenon.

It has been said that any group within a group is a precursor to a division within the organization. It has also been said groups are unavoidable due to the nature of people and thus must be embraced and accomodated. Well what is the truth about a group within the group?

Jesus had 3 disciples who we call his inner circle (james peter and john), then there was the 12 apostles, and the 120 disciples, and last the mulitude. We see aquaintences, friends, and best friends within every group. We know Jesus spent more time with the 3 than the 12 though the 12 were with him during his full 3.5 year ministry. So does this mean we get to pick our favorites and then let the rest just linger grasping for our emotional extras as best they can. Obviously this is not an option.

Within groups there can be the "in crowd" and then there is the "outsiders" trying to get in. Many times churches, church people, and leaders included; make it difficult for the new poeple or those who are not "chirstian enough" to get in.

Those who we see as being the most like us or who posess the most promise to be leaders we give preferential time, attention, and validation. (because we also have family and relatives here we must watch for this also). This is like the man who only loans money to those who can pay him back with interest. Christ emptied himself for all, without preference to capablitlites, clothing, talent, wit etc... This we must treat each person as if they were the only ones in the room when we talk with them, and we must make attempts to talk to them all.

Items to keep in mind when dealing with those who you relate to:
As leaders:
There is a group within a group I Am Part Of IT
*** "this is the group I am selectively ministrering to" - Bad idea you just said anybody else in the group is less important than these. We all have a target audience within our ministry but to create a closed or select group you hang with creates an exclusivity that is not Godly. IT devalues those who are not "select".
***"I hang with them because I relate to them so well" - Bad again This is probably a sign that you are not a solution but part of the problem. You hang with those who feed you. So you may be creating a circle of friends who minsiter to your emotional needs as much as you minister to them. You get Cudos (praises) that feeds an ever needing ego, you may even flirt and tease to get that side of an emotional need filled (this is very dangerous because we very seldom see it) Inadvertantly we create a very closed circle based on emotional strokes we give each other.
*** "These are the group i minster with" Worship, prayer, etc. again not bad on the outside, but when we HANG with then, and spend our time and attention at the excusion to others we create a closed circle. As leaders we must always be opening the circle even at the risk of our own comfort level.

***As a leader there is only one healthy view we can take: Jesus Died for all thus all are equally important. I am not allowed to be part of any group within the larger group.

NOTE: IF a co-leader comes to you and suggests you may be involved in a group within a group and you may be inadvertently creating a closed circle ... dont blow it off. Each time I have been told this [usually by colleen] they were right and I needed to change my outlook my attention and how I spent my time.. (from expereince it is really easy to spend your time with those you are emotionally comfortable with)

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As a leader who is not part of this group within a group.

I see from the outside that there is a group developing that has the potential to exclude others what do I do... (no other leaders are involved)

(i would like your feedback how would you approach it.. )

Mr.Molina said...
Pastor:Keep up the good work. I like all of the leadership tips that are on the blog. Maybe we could get some stories of good leadership, maybe from Coca Cola, or other companies: from John Maxwell's books.
8:01 PM
Mr. Molina said...

I thought this was worthy of being a post not just a comment..
Add yourselves so you guys can post and i dont have to "approve your comments"

P.John

Now as we were say ing Mr. Molina Said...
How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrors of the mind. They reflect thinking.

You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you. Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.

Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.For success, attitude is equally as important as ability.

The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.

Character is the result of two things: mental attitude and the way we spend our time.It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome.

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it's only a choice of attitude.
8:17 PM

Attitudes of a Leader continued.:


What is the attitude you take when something goes wrong?
Is it subconsciously “who can I blame?” Or “how is this going to make me look”. How about “its not my fault I hope they know all the stuff I did and why it isn’t my fault”.

What attitude do we take when something goes well?
“I hope they recognize all I did to make this happen”. “Yes it is Gods anointing on my life”. “This must be the endorsement from God”.

Success and failure: Some would say these are the hardest for any man or woman of God to endure. We all adjust well to progress and even an occasional dip in success. But we don’t like failure and we are most afraid of success. It is said in scripture (I don’t remember where) that God tests our hearts by our successes.

As the leader, attitudes that create relational success, will far out produce those who create organizational success. People will work, follow, listen to a person who cares for them, not a talented, or anointed figure head. The old axiom is true, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” People will follow glitz or annointing for a short time. Personal integrity with those you server will produce faithfulness, and a long ministry.

Attitudes I would recommend not taking on are very self serving, very dangerous and very very subtle. They are usually couched in a small amount of truth. But leaders cannot take solace in shifting the blame to someone else. I best can describe what not to do by simply telling us what to do. The great football coach Bear Bryant was credited with having said these are his attitudes about his team.
Success. They are doing Great
Progress: We are doing well
Failure: It is my fault.

I believe all failure no matter at what level can be traced back to the leader at the top. Communications of expectations, training, discipline, casting of vision and so on are all the responsibility of the leader. To fail in one or several of these areas will cause an eventual breakdown in the organization. Success is based not only on good leadership but the group of people who have taken up the vision, tasks and have chosen to excel at those things set before them. So we get the responsibility but those who follow will get the glory because they did what needs to be done in order to succeed. (YAH TEAM).

As emerging leaders, we will succeed and fail 1000 times during our growth process. But during this time we can guarantee others will be willing to come along with us if we keep in mind that 1.) Jesus LOVES People not organizations. 2.)We cannot be healed unless we confess our faults. and most importanly (as seen through my eyes continually) 3.) The grace we give others to fail, grow, and try will be given back to us.