Patterns of Dynamic
Catholic Leadership
Jim Lundholm-Eades
612-599-0627
[email protected]
www.TheLeadershipRoundtable.org
Tel ephone: 202/223-8962
| Email202-223-8962
: info@nl r cm.or g ‫ | ׀‬Email:
Websit e:[email protected]
www.TheLeader shipRoundt abl e.or g
Telephone:
1
The Synod has said
“There is a need to continually call, form and
support clergy, religious and laity in active
leadership roles in the life of the Church.”
– We must develop a culture that promotes and
supports vocations
– Prioritize ongoing formation of clergy
– Discern and share gifts of Catholics
– Create opportunities and structures for ongoing
formation of lay leaders
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Formation, Discernment, Opportunity, Sharing,
Calling and Structure are Related
Formation
Opportunity
STRUCTURE
RESOURCES
Prioritizing
Sharing
CULTURE
Discernment
Calling
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Today
1. The purposes of Catholic Leadership
2. 10 elements of Catholic leadership that is
dynamic and why it is needed
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1. Problems have Changed
Routine problems
– Routine problems have routine solutions
– Catholic leaders rarely have it so easy!
Adaptive Problems
– Most diocesan and parish problems that engage bishops and
those who work with them are adaptive
– Adaptive problems are complex, unfolding over time
– Often have temporary solutions that need periodic review as
conditions change
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– lead discourse, dialogue, gather the right people, set a climate
for respectful dialogue, encourage long-term perspective
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1. Problems have Changed
“I think this is truly the most powerful
experience we can have: to belong to a people
walking, journeying through history together
with their Lord among us! We are not alone, we
do not walk alone …. We are part of the one
flock of Christ, walking together.”
Pope Frances, October 3, 2013
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1. Problems have Changed
DISSONANCE
RESURRECTION
REINTEGRATION
DISINTEGRATION
The Journey
is Spiritual,
individual
and in Communio
DARK
NIGHTS
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2. Solution Processes have Changed
Solutions to adaptive problems emerge from prayer
and dialogue
– Conditions change
– The unexpected happens
– New people get involved
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– Regularly scan their current reality
– Continuously create new alignments of people, ideas
and activity
– Engage in continuous prayer, feedback, consultation
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3. Solutions emerge in Sets
Solutions come in sets (of options) and there is
more than one good solution
Solutions sets change over time
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– Give time for options to develop
– Weigh options against well developed criteria
– Hold all good options in mind after the current
solution is adopted
– Prepare to continuously adapt as conditions change
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4. Leadership Space
Effective Leaders manage up, down and across
Decision space versus decision points
Leadership is exercised in a spaces defined by time
and Catholic culture
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– Grow sets of non-hierarchical relationships outside the diocese
and parish that impact success
– Need communication and persuasive skills
– Need capacity to build trust, not just assume it exists
– Can tolerate and learn from respectful disagreement
– Can execute a decision making process in the presence of
respectful disagreement
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5. Decision-Making has Changed
Good decisions emerge over time
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
–
–
–
–
–
Operate often with minimum information
Know what information is needed
Divest decision making to subordinates
Choose how to time decisions
Make decisions in the presence of ambiguity
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6. Time Management is Critical
Finding time for leading takes intentionality
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– Have a disciplined approach to using their time
– Manage time as an asset, not an enemy
– Are intentional about frequency, access to
themselves, rhythm of meetings
– Hold both formal and informal meetings
– Hold most meetings for interaction
– Hold fewer meetings for information
– Hold fewer still meetings for decision making
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7. How Leaders think has Changed
Leaders limited to tactical level thinking only see
discrete actions in closed systems
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– Think of continuity of actions in open systems
– Exercise leadership for a future, larger than self goal,
both mid term and eschatological
– Hold in mind a time horizon that is eschatological while
attending to the present activity
– Continuously create and/or make opportunity for new
thinking in themselves and others
– Learn from experience and changing operating
conditions
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8. Responsibility to the Church has Risen
Dynamic Catholic leaders take responsibility for the
Church universal
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– Have a broad and varied understanding of Church
– Take responsibility for the overall health of the Church
– Live personal lives within the values and beliefs of the
Church
– Identify future leaders and vocations for both lay and
ordained roles
– Engage in internal and external discourse about the Church
– Are personally open to constructive, respectful critique
– Are open to respectful, constructive critique of the Church
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9. Talent Management the Responsibility of Leaders
The Church is people: The Church promotes from
within
People “stay in” ministry, even if “de nomima sola”
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
–
–
–
–
Promote healthy work environments
Are active in developing other leaders
Try to attract good leaders
Nurture and mentor current and future leaders
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10. Church Leadership is a Vocation
Vocational call is from God
Decisions to enter ministry (lay and ordained) and
stay in ministry happen because of good leadership
Dynamic Catholic Leaders
– Represent by what they say and how they act that the
the Church as a long term commitment that is full of
hope and happiness
– People follow happy, healthy leaders
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Synthesis: Elements of Dynamic Catholic Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vocational
Discerning
Aware and insightful
Adaptable
Connective and collaborative
Systemic and multidimensional
Exercised in space defined by time and Catholic
culture
• Invitational to the next generation
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1. Tools for Developing Leadership Competency
Choose tools that meet these criteria
– Based on well researched competencies suited to your role
and context
– Assess both strengths and areas for growth
– Create a plan you really can execute
– Develops competency through formation as well as
education
– Includes opportunity for accountability: ongoing coaching
and assessment of progress
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Jim Lundholm-Eades
612-599-0627
[email protected]
www.TheLeadershipRoundtable.org
Tel ephone: 202/223-8962
| Email202-223-8962
: info@nl r cm.or g ‫ | ׀‬Email:
Websit e:[email protected]
www.TheLeader shipRoundt abl e.or g
Telephone:
19