Name: Rob Douglas

Title: Retired Minister

Organisation: Retirement

I have recently retired after 40 years in ministry, including pastoral ministry, consultancy to local churches, and leadership in the Christian not-for-profit sector

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

We’ve gone through the interviews and asked the best of the best to come back and answer 7 MORE Questions on Leadership.

I hope Rob's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. As a leader, how do you build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders?

Building trust takes time, proving to be trustworthy over months and years. It is a slow process but involves listening to people and getting to know them, showing that you are genuinely interested in them, who they are, and what they do. It's about being with them in the hard times as well as the good times. It's about being honest and transparent in all things. It's about living what you preach.

2. What do 'VISION' and 'MISSION' mean to you? And what does it actually look like to use them in real-world business?

Vision is that ability to look beyond the present pressures and expectations and to imagine a future that maybe quite different to the present. Vision allows you to give people hope because you are not bogged down in the present but can see a better future. It's not necessarily about imagining a bigger church with better leadership and new buildings, but it's about seeing the potential for the individual you are working with, or helping people to imagine a world where they can see God at work around them.

Mission is what God is already doing in your neighbourhood and world. When you can see that mission and join him in service, your vision is already expanded. Rather than trying to manufacture either vision or mission, by recognising God's fingerprint in what is near it is possible to participate in both his mission and his vision for you and those around you.

3. How can a leader empower the people they're leading?

Empowerment comes from inviting people to join you as you seek to discover God's mission in the world. You will not empower people by cajoling them to preach more fervently. They will feel empowered when they take those little steps towards the mission that you have inspired them to take.

One step at a time. Encourage people, say thank you, help them back on their feet if they have tripped, and cheer with them when they experience something new. When I learned to ride a bicycle, my dad would hold on to the back of the bike as I learned how to pedal and steer, then one day I realised that he was way back and had let go. I think I probably fell off at that point, but what a great sense that I had ridden by myself.

4. Who are some of the coaches or mentors in your life who have had a positive influence on your leadership? Can you please tell a meaningful story about one of them?

In my teen years, a youth worker noticed that I played the guitar and asked me to play at a holiday programme he was organising. He then provided other opportunities for me to participate, and through these small opportunities, I found myself getting involved in ministry. They were small steps, and I was encouraged to participate at the level I was able. While this was happening, I was watching him and learning from him, and saw in this man a humility and joy in what he was doing. I was inspired to continue to follow Jesus in service.

5. Leadership is often more about what you DON'T do. How do you maintain focus in your role?

It's about Jesus, not about me.

My first responsibility is to my wife and family. Don't jump to serve every time the phone rings

6. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Everyone plans differently. How do you plan for the week, month and years ahead in your role?

I like to set big goals of what I want to achieve, then break them down into months, weeks, and days. I'm not always good at this, but it helps at the beginning of the year to work out a broad picture of how you hope the year to go, making note of holidays, special events, and important expectations. When you've done that, it's possible to break the year up into months and to plan what you would like to achieve in that time. It doesn't always work out as expected, so hold onto your plans loosely, but have them nevertheless.

7. What advice would you give to a young leader who is struggling to delegate effectively?

It's not all about you. Give opportunities to others because it's good for them. Jesus provided the best example of this. He chose 12 people who were very different, and he worked consistently with them. They didn't always listen to him, and in one case, he failed dismally. Just remember, Judas, when things are tough. Jesus has been there too. Jesus invited his disciples to be with him in all kinds of circumstances. He didn't run a Bible school or workshop. They went fishing, climbed mountains, walked, and talked,d and all the time he was available to answer their questions and help them to find answers.