Are you a woman who leads? Maybe you don’t see yourself as a leader, but God has you leading someone right where you are. Maybe it’s your kids, your friends, or the teenager next door. Maybe it’s a Women’s Ministry, a team at work, or a small group. This series—led by our women’s ministry specialist Kelly King—will help you no matter where you lead, and whether you’re leading one or one thousand.
I live in the leadership world. I read books on leadership. I lead conferences on leadership. I follow respected Christian leaders on social media. Leadership development isn’t just something I do. It’s something I think about and live on a regular basis.
Even so, when I look at evaluations from our leadership conferences, I find the majority of women who attend have never attended a conference prior to the one we offer. Comments like, “I wish I would have done this years before!” or “I now have the tools I need to be a leader” are reminders that many women want to lead but don’t take time to invest in their personal leadership development. If God has called you to a position of leadership, you can benefit from attending a training event. Here are four things you’ll gain when you take time for training:
- You will be a more competent leader. Leaders who attend conferences and take time to learn from experts will leave with new skill sets. Whether you need to learn how to handle conflict, build a leadership team, or develop personal spiritual disciplines, leaders benefit from intentional learning environments. A few years ago, I attended a blogging conference because I wanted to learn how to improve this skill. The relationships I made at that conference and the information I received still impacts my competency in this area. Kaycee Lookingbill, a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, said, “Leading has a way of exposing really quickly the areas you need to grow in. The opportunity to be trained and equipped has allowed me to more effectively lead the ladies under my care. I want to be constantly growing as I’m pushing them to grow as disciple makers.”
- You will be a more confident leader. When women attend training opportunities, they often leave with more confidence in their ability to do what God has called them to do. They come with passion and excitement but they leave with a confidence to take the next step in leadership.
- You will be a more creative leader. When you attending leadership events, you’ll be encouraged to think outside the box, gain new ideas, and become more relevant. Simone Monroe, Women’s Ministry Director at Lake Pointe Church in Texas and Lifeway Women’s Trainer, said, “When I began developing leaders instead of training them I began to see unlimited leadership developing all around me in our ministry. Creativity among our leaders was released and disciple making became a natural way of life. Leadership and ministry are both about people, not the task at hand.”
- You will be a more committed leader. Training events solidify your desires to make a difference. While you may have entered a training event with an idea or a dream, many times you will leave with a commitment to return to your area of influence and take the necessary steps of making your idea or dream a reality. Your good ideas become God ideas that are confirmed through scripture and through Godly mentors.
If you’re looking for a way to be equipped for leadership, consider attending one of Lifeway’s You Lead events or the upcoming Women’s Leadership Forum. You’ll leave with more competence, confidence, creativity and commitment to take the next step in your personal leadership journey.
Are you ready to lead well? Get training at events like YOU Lead around the country and Women’s Leadership Forum this November in Nashville, TN. At Women’s Forum, you’ll sit under teaching from Beth Moore, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more solid, biblical leaders.
Kelly King is the Women’s Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Women. She and her husband, Vic, have been married for more than 28 years and have enjoyed serving together in ministry both teaching in student ministry for 25 years and teaching young married adults. They have two young adult children, Conner and Courtney, and a son-in- law, Gaige. They enjoy kayaking, having people in their home, and cheering for the Oklahoma City Thunder. A good day includes mocha lattes, Mexican food, and shopping for bargains.