You probably went into ministry because you love preaching, shepherding, and discipling people. But if you’ve been in leadership for any length of time, you know preaching is only part of the job. Leading a church today requires a wide range of leadership skills. They are the other side of pastoring that wasn’t covered in seminary.
In addition to the obvious stuff, you’re expected to manage finances, build teams, cast vision, resolve conflicts, and keep the organization running while nurturing your own soul. It’s no wonder so many pastors feel drained, stretched thin, and unprepared!
Delegating and team building are super helpful skills. You don’t have to do it all yourself but you do need a clear understanding of the areas that don’t come naturally to you. That awareness allows you to delegate wisely, empower others, and avoid blind spots that could damage your ministry.
Let’s look at five areas where pastors often struggle and why they matter for you.
5 Areas That Equip You for The Other Side of Pastoring
1. Your Personal Development
It’s tempting to pour everything into others while neglecting your own growth. But if you skip your personal development, everyone loses. Investing in your spiritual, emotional, and practical growth gives you the resilience to lead for the long haul. Remember, your ability to lead others begins with how well you lead yourself.
2. Communication Skills
Preaching is only one form of communication. You also have to cast vision, clarify expectations, and resolve misunderstandings. And you have to reach people in an era of constant updates to vernacular and communication mediums. Strengthening your ability to listen, repeat key messages, and check for understanding will make you a more effective leader. When communication breaks down, frustration grows and trust erodes. Strong communication is one of the most essential church leadership skills you can develop.
3. Organizational Development
Maybe you started with a small group or church plant, but as things grow, your systems need to grow too. Without healthy structures, ministries stall out, volunteers burn out, and staff get overwhelmed. Understanding how your role shifts as your ministry grows is essential. Learning how to build simple, sustainable, and scalable processes frees you to focus on people rather than paperwork.
4. Financial and Legal Basics
Budgets, bylaws, and IRS guidelines may not be your favorite topics but ignoring them can put you and your church at serious risk. Even if you delegate the details, you need to understand the basics. These practical skills protect your credibility, safeguard your church, and allow you to lead with confidence.
5. Empowering and Releasing Others
You were never meant to do it all. Ministry thrives when you empower and release others to lead alongside you. Delegation isn’t just about lightening your load, when it’s done right it multiplies your impact. When you equip others, your church grows stronger and your mission extends further.
Leading a Church Takes More
You were called to preach God’s Word, but there are a lot of additional skills needed for the other side of pastoring. These other responsibilities may feel daunting, but you don’t have to figure them out alone.
The Leadership Difference is a fantastic resource to help you develop the leadership skills you need to pastor wisely, delegate well, and build a church that can flourish for years to come.
Some thrive with passion and a good how-to book. Most need a little more help than that. An excellent coach helps you determine your starting place and create a development plan that meets your immediate needs while looking to the future. Dr. Bob has come alongside hundreds of pastors and ministry leaders to help them lead courageously, with purpose and wisdom. He happens to have a couple of coaching spots open. If you want to learn how coaching can accelerate you and your ministry, email admin@loganleadership.com today and set up a complimentary call with Dr. Bob.