Here's an interesting tidbit from my life. The church I attend has a pastor who's been there for almost 20 years. While he wasn't the first pastor of the church in question, he's obviously been there longer than anyone else and due to his knowledge, skills and abilities, has really become the face of the church. He's widely loved for his gifts, his passion for his work and his sincerity related to all things faith based. He's good. An A player for all practical purposes, if God has a succession planning replacement chart.
He's a #1. He's been a #1 for a long time. There's never been a spiritual #2 for the organization in question. So there's never been a question of who the man is.
The church has grown, and the organization made a growth-based staffing decision. If we're going to grow, the pastor needs a number #2 - an associate pastor. Interviews ensued, the process dragged out over months. Finally, the smoke came up from the chimney. We had an associate pastor. The number #2 was in place.
Churches are like any other organization. Because they're filled with people, they're imperfect and riddled with issues - same as your company. While much of the church organization celebrated the arrival of the #2, a portion of the organization positioned it as a dramatic challenge. Could the existing star pastor - the #1 in question - give up some control to fully utilize the skills and capacity of the #2? Or would he be a control freak and fail to utilize the skills and potential of the #2 the organization hired?
The point? #1's who are used to being lone wolfs are widely perceived to have difficulty giving authority and organizational oxygen to strong #2's. In those situations, the arrival of a capable #2 can split an organization. After all, many of the flock (employees within companies and members within churches) are going to connect with a capable #2 to an equal or greater degree than they do the #1. That's just the way the organizational dynamic works.
So, how can the #1 show the organization that he's fully utilizing the #2? Here's my list:
1. Share the presentation oxygen. You don't have to split the repetitions in front of the flock, but you can't bring in a solid #2 and not give him some reps in front of the base. You don't have to split the spotlight, just provide a little access. The naysayers in this situation believe the #1 won't be capable of giving up any of the sermons in question within the church program. I think he will.
2. Talk about what the #2 is working on and how they're doing great at it. This one's pretty simple - give the #2 important stuff to work on, then talk about how great the #2 is doing. Shows you can delegate and appreciate.
3. Repeat #1 and #2. Early and often...
A short list, no? Churches, like companies, are organizations. That's always been my challenge with organized religion - I always expected more. I no longer do, thanks to the perspective shared by the #1 in question, who also happens to be a reader of this blog.
Good luck #1. You'll need the #2 to accomplish the big goals you have in mind. Position accordingly.
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