Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Our Tips for Leading with Confidence are focusing on Scripture. Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:3–4).

There are so many temptations for leaders. If they’re not careful, they’ll end up putting their trust in themselves or their strategy. And if they’re doing well, they’ll take delight in it. It seems that the more successful you are as a leader, the more danger you’re in.

Successful or not, a leader’s trust and delight should always be in God. As an LWML leader, keep your focus on trusting God's promises and assurances. Be reminded that God is faithful and any success you experience is a blessing from Him!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2019–2021 Leadership Development Committee
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

The next several Tips for Leading with Confidence will focus on Scripture. Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.

Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens (Exodus 18:21).

It didn’t take too long for Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, to see that Moses was in way over his head. The Israelites had been brought out of Egypt, and all of Moses’ time was now being spent mediating their squabbles and issues. Jethro’s advice was to delegate trustworthy men to even out the burden.

Quality leadership looks for and empowers other leaders. The old adage — if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself — is nonsense. You’re not a better leader if you’re doing it all yourself.

A common concern among our groups and zones is that we have trouble recruiting servants to take responsibility in a leadership position. This provides an opportunity to encourage mentorship. "I'd love to work with you and show you the joy of serving in the capacity of ______________." Becoming a mentor to help someone enjoy the benefits of serving in a leadership position can be a rewarding experience. Give it a try!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2019–2021 Leadership Development Committee
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence. We pray this leadership tip will be beneficial as you serve our Lord through the LWML. We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Providing Opportunities for Women to Use Their Gifts

Our LWML mission statement includes the phrase, “so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world.” Perhaps what we’re saying is that we can’t expect women in our congregations to show an interest in LWML activities or events if we don’t offer opportunities for women to use their varied gifts in the realm of LWML. 

Consult your congregational talent survey to learn of interests and talents of women in the congregation. Think outside the box as you plan your year’s activities, and if you’re unfamiliar with the gifts and talents possessed by some of the women, be bold and ask them to consider leading an activity for your group. This honors their abilities, while providing your group with the opportunity to enjoy learning something new. 

Publicize your events frequently and well in advance. Don’t assume everyone knows that you meet on the first Tuesday evening of each month. Along with planning the activity, plan who in your group will invite specific women who don’t know about the blessing of LWML. Ask these members of your group to pair themselves with this newcomer. Take seriously the challenge and blessing of personally inviting women to your group’s events.

Keep women from losing interest in returning for future activities by using participants’ time well. Busy work without a purpose is a waste of time and a sure way to lose interest. Share the workload rather than overburdening a few. Recognize a job well done. Do not take people for granted. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says we are to "encourage one another and build one another up."

If someone continues to attend your group events, then ask her if she would be willing to help and in what way. If she says “no,” then encourage her to keep coming. If she says “yes,” then engage her in helping out in her area of interest.

Women can be a powerful force in fulfilling the Great Commission. Your LWML group can be a catalyst in involving the many talented, dedicated women in your congregation to use their God-given talents in service to God and others.

Ideas from LWML Resource, Gaining, Training, Maintaining Women of the LWML, Original article by Christine Steele, 1988.

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2019–2021 Leadership Development Committee
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence. We pray this leadership tip will be beneficial as you serve our Lord through the LWML. We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Refine Your Listening Skills

Great leaders learn and forge consensus among their constituents by listening and by encouraging all group members to listen skillfully and with care to one another. To listen — really listen — is hard. Too often we:

•  assume we already know what the other person will say, so we tune out;

•  begin planning our response instead of focusing on understanding the other person’s point of view;

•  fail to note the non-verbal messages connected with the words of the other person and thus miss much of the communication;

•  become defensive because we feel threatened, and scramble mentally to justify ourselves; or

•  become impatient, because creating true consensus among a group takes time.

These behaviors and attitudes can short-circuit relationships. Yet, as we overcome these behaviors with God's help, our willingness to listen will benefit us and our organization in several ways:

•  Listening helps calm and comfort the group during times of change, pain, fear, and stress.

•  By listening, servant leaders discover roadblocks and opportunities, needs and strengths.

•  Listening develops sensitivity to people’s needs and interests, and this sensitivity builds trust.

•  Those who listen to others find that others more readily listen to them.

•  Listening deeply to others helps us avoid premature consensus on less-than-ideal decisions.

Enjoy the benefits by listening carefully as you lead!

From Servant Leadership … Setting Leaders Free, by Dr. Jane Fryar, © 2001 Concordia Publishing House (cph.org). Used with permission.

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2019–2021 Leadership Development Committee
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence. We pray this leadership tip will be beneficial as you serve our Lord through the LWML. We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Understanding Our Mission Statement — “To Assist Each Woman”

Sometimes we need to be reminded of ways to reach out to women in our congregations, to pique their interest, and to encourage their involvement in LWML. 

Here are just a few ways to “Assist Each Woman” as our mission statement challenges us:

1.  Try to get all the women in your congregation involved in Bible study. Encourage participation in Sunday morning Bible class and other Bible studies offered at your church. Invite them to your meetings when Bible study is the main focus. Bible study often leads to Christian maturity and service.

2.  Personally invite the new and inactive women in your congregation to an LWML activity. Assign “mentors” from your group so that no one feels uncomfortable attending a gathering for the first time. Ensure the "mentors" sit with those they invite and introduce them to the members of your group.

3.  Assume every woman in the congregation wants to be involved in Christian service. Do not pre-judge interests or time available. Even women who work outside the home or young mothers can be part of a prayer chain, make phone calls, write emails, post on Facebook or Twitter, and contribute mites. They can do these things even if they are not able to attend meetings.

4.  Plan a gathering once or twice a year with a special theme and at a different time than usual. Try a Saturday brunch, a Lenten prayer service, an evening picnic with vespers in the summer, or host a special speaker. Plan programs that meet a variety of interests.

5.  Plan frequent receptions to welcome women into your congregation. Informally share information about LWML and service opportunities. Leave time for visiting and use name tags to help newcomers become acquainted.

6.  Be an example of service to the women, just as Christ is our example. For instance, offering meals, babysitting, running errands, and housecleaning to new mothers and those who cannot do so.

Ideas from LWML Resource, Gaining, Training, Maintaining Women of the LWML, Original article by Christine Steele, 1988.

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2019–2021 Leadership Development Committee
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence. We pray this leadership tip will be beneficial as you serve our Lord through the LWML. We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Setting Healthy Boundaries

If you struggle with overextending yourself when responding to the needs of others, you may have problems setting healthy boundaries. 

Weak boundaries leave leaders defenseless against “users” who feel entitled to manipulate them and who expect to be taken care of at their expense. 

Rigid boundaries cause leaders to shut other people out. They live unprepared and ill-equipped for the give-and-take that healthy relationships require. 

Flexible boundary leaders are competent in living their own life, yet with a balanced and healthy interest in others. They can be generous in sharing their time, compassion, and resources, without becoming overly responsible, or betraying their God-given duty to be the unique person He made them, just to please others. 

Unlike rigid leaders, they bend and adjust as circumstances require, without becoming overwhelmed, defensive, resentful, blaming, or reactive. In tough situations, they roll with the punches, stay focused, and draw on a well of inner strength which God provides. People and circumstances don’t control them; they flex, and let God take charge. They are helpful, but they don’t feel guilty because they can’t “fix” everyone. Their boundaries enable them to adjust to circumstances. They work toward Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), without doing too much or being responsible for others.

For tips on setting healthy boundaries, Edna Ellison and Tricia Scribner have a chapter in their book, Woman to Woman: Preparing Yourself to Mentor, New Hope Publishers, Birmingham, Alabama, First Printing 1999 (subsequent publishing date: April 20, 2011).

Ideas adapted from Daily Devotions, Lutheran Church Charities: Tim Hetzner, author; used by permission; giving glory to God!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2019–2021 Leadership Development Committee
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Leadership Tips

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Tips for Leading with Confidence. We pray this leadership tip will be beneficial as you serve our Lord through the LWML. We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Reasons Women Join a Servant Organization

Here are some reasons why women join servant organizations:

•  To share God-given talents;
•  To grow in faith;
•  To be needed;
•  To help others;
•  To make a difference;
•  To learn new skills or use skills already developed;
•  To belong to a caring community;
•  To feel accepted; and
•  To support causes they believe in.

Does your LWML group provide opportunities for fulfillment in these areas so women will want to become a part of it?

Your LWML group can be a catalyst in involving the many talented, dedicated women in your congregation to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Consider planning events that work toward these reasons. Invite women to be part of these events.

Ideas from LWML Resource, Gaining, Training, Maintaining Women of the LWML. Original article by Christine Steele, 1988.

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

LWML 2019–2021 Leadership Development Committee
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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