As leaders… and leaders of leaders, we have the opportunity to focus our leadership efforts in ways that maximize our strengths, highlight our gifts and “show off” all of the reasons that we are the perfect leader for the positions we hold. And if in doing this, we also maximize the strengths, highlight the gifts and “show off” the reasons why all of the leaders around us are the perfect people for their positions as well — then I would say that we’ve probably hit the ministry jackpot!

If that doesn’t describe your ministry context, don’t feel bad… but don’t hold your breath either.

And while I don’t believe that there’s a magic formula, or a one-size-fits-all approach, that would allow us to achieve such leadership utopia… I do think there are a couple of things that we could try that might move us in this direction.

What would happen if we focused our leadership efforts in the areas of 1) doing what only we can do, and 2) doing what no one else is willing to do? How would this impact our ministry? What message would it send to those we lead? How might it inspire their leadership?

Do what only you can do.

What do I mean? Well, if your ministry is anything like the one I’m a part of, then you’re likely surrounded by a lot of talented individuals. There are a lot of people, with a lot of gifts, that likely just need to be given the chance to step into responsibility. We have the chance to create that space for them.

How much of your day do you spend doing things that other people can do? That other people can do better than you? What would it look like to give them some of those ministry responsibilities? Consider the freedom… Or would you struggle to give up control?

Also, your role as pastor — or a leader of leaders — may give you the time, space, credibility or opportunity to do something that others could not. Maybe it’s bringing different parties on campus together. Maybe it’s stealing 30 minutes of the President’s time. Maybe it suggesting that this time, or that program, or this process take on a more intentionally Christian or spiritually formative look and feel.

It all kind of depends on the kind of campus we serve, the kind of relationships we’ve built and our ability to discern the leading of the Spirit — and of course, then follow! I think the possibilities here are limitless.

Do what no one else wants to do.

Depending on your personality, this area might be more of a stretch for you than the other. This one isn’t as exciting or adventurous as “doing what only you can do” has the potential to be. But that’s OK. Sometimes… oftentimes leadership — good leadership — happens in the humdrum-ness of everyday life.

If you’ve been a leader for very long, or if you’ve found your way to a position of leading leaders, than you’ve likely seen enough and done enough to have gathered some pretty good experience in a wide-variety of areas. This will not be true for younger leaders. And so when we think about getting our team members — all fellow leaders — in the positions where they can excel (ultimately benefitting the overall ministry effort the greatest) it may require us giving away some of our job responsibilities that we really like. It might involve us taking on more “behind the scenes” responsibilities. It might mean that we take over the budget, the website or the trash detail. It might mean that we take on some tasks and responsibilities that require us to do some more learning and receive some more training… which wouldn’t be so bad… would it?

There are a lot of thankless jobs in the world. And we know that in ministry there are definitely those “jobs” that are more likely to be lauded by others — and others that will not. Are we willing to give up what we feel we’ve likely “earned” — the ability to create our own job description, to our personal liking, leaving those less desirable tasks to be tended to by our colleagues or student leaders — and instead serve as the “catch-all.”

Now I’m not suggesting total ministry anarchy. But I am suggesting, at the very least, a consideration of how we might lead — in more effective ways — by focusing some of our efforts in these two areas.

What do you think? Am I crazy?

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Guy Chmieleski is the University Minister at Belmont University and the curator of this blog — FaithONCampus.com. You can keep up with me here, on Facebook or Twitter: @guychmieleski.