When I get to the top, I'll no longer be limited

Myth #5 - The Freedom Myth

Have you ever had these thoughts?
- Leadership is the ticket to freedom.
- When I get to the top, you will have made it.
- When I reach the top, I will have time to rest.
- When I own it all, I will be able to do whatever I want.
- When I am in charge, the sky is the limit.

I am sure those thoughts have crept in from time-to-time, especially if one is at the bottom of the leadership ladder. Those of us at the bottom seem to get the grunt work or any assigned position, and we see the top leaders just hanging around, and we think, I want to be at the top because it will be easier.

Anyone who has been at the top will tell you that those ideas are mere fantasies. Being at the top will not eliminate your limits. You will still have limits.

When you move up in an organization, your responsibilities will increase. Most times, your responsibilities will increase faster than your authority will. The higher you go, more is expected of you, the pressure increases, and the impact of your decisions weighs more.

Let's look at this example:

Junior Leader/Adult Leader in Children's Ministry (Volunteer)
- You are really good at working with children.
- You are good at developing relationships with other leaders.
- You are consistently on time.
- You are assigned to one grade/age of children.
- You can choose your schedule.
- You have one job assignment.
- You lend a hand when asked.

Yeah, you are promoted to Service Leader!
- Still working with children, but now you have the full service to organize
- Responsible for training and supervising all leaders and volunteers
- Your schedule increases with more demand for your time.
- Your responsibilities increase to include other departments
- You are responsible for supplies, curriculum, and other items for several classrooms

Yeah, now you are promoted to Children's Pastor!
- You oversee several divisions or departments
- You are responsible for all leaders and volunteers
- You are responsible for every aspect of the ministry, including the good and bad.
- You plan, schedule and run all meetings, services, and events
- You oversee all ages of children
- You develop the policies
- You responsible for every penny spent within your budget and expenses
- You have extra meetings as you represent your department within the whole organization.

Being at the top is not as freeing or as easy, but if you want push the limits of your effectiveness -- learning to lead will blow the lid off your potential.

*Materials were taken from John Maxwell's The 360 Degree Leader