One of the most important aspects of leadership, one that is easily forgotten when the goal of leadership is to “get ahead,” or “win,” is the power of partnership. Many times we get so caught up in our particular role as leader of a company, a church or other organization that we forget the adage made popular by President John F. Kennedy, “A rising tide raises all the ships. Even in the church world, a place where we ought to understand partnership implicitly, because our goal is for everyone to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, competition can get in the way. I was reminded of the vital importance of partnership this past weekend, when my good friend, Pastor John Nuzzo preached at New Life.
John is the lead pastor of Victory Family Church, a thriving church in Cranberry Township, PA. Victory ministers to more than 3,000 people each weekend and has significant influence in that community. Yet, this past weekend John came to Saxonburg and preached at all four of our weekend services. What message does that communicate to those who had any idea it happened? New Life and Victory are working together! John, his wife Michelle, and Victory Family Church have walked with New Life throughout our sixteen year history lending prayer, expertise, guidance, and the more tangible resources of time and money in their partnership with us. Recently, I had the opportunity to reciprocate as I spoke at Victory’s weekly leadership school.
This partnership shows any who are watching that our goal is to advance our common goal of increasing the influence of Jesus Christ in western Pennsylvania and beyond, to give as many who don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord the opportunity to do so as possible. I recently read that the original meaning of the word competition, which comes from the Latin computer, was “to grow together.” That sounds a lot more like partnership than like what we usually mean when we say the word competition today, doesn’t it?
How are you partnering with those who are in a common field of endeavor in order to raise all the ships around you, or are you? It may sound ridiculous to help your “competitors,” but is it? Perhaps you recall the classic movie Miracle on 34th Street, in which the Santa Claus of Macy’s (in the original screen version) or Coles (in the 1994 remake) tells parents of other stores where they can buy toys not available or in his store, or at a better price in the other stores. The result? The Macy’s/Cole’s customers become more loyal than ever to their favorite store and Santa.
Yes, the story is fictional, but the premise is valid. Loyalty doesn’t diminish, but grows when the people we serve realize we are serving their best interests rather than our own. As Pastor John was preaching and then greeting the people of New Life after each service, I enjoyed watching the interaction. The goodwill of everyone involved was obvious to see. I don’t know how you might apply the power of partnership in your situation, but I’m sure it will benefit those you serve, and it will also benefit you, because it will expand your spheres of influence, and your spheres of growth and learning.
Here’s to leading better by investing in the power of partnership–today!