From Back To Front

Of the four major sports in the US, (I’m being really generous to hockey. It’s probably time for that to go away.) David Stern is the only commissioner to make the statement, “The name on the back is more important than the name on the front.” In other words names like Bryant, James, and Anthony, are more important than Laker, Heat, or Knick. Roger Goodell has pundits from every angle criticize the way the NFL protects its brand even down to off the field, off-season player behavior. I think the difference in philosophy and culture speaks for itself.

David Stern will get Christmas cards from all his favorite players, but he is probably not going to get to watch any basketball on Christmas Day, 2011. He will get to watch some NFL Football along with the rest of the US. Players from the NBA can scatter all over the world and still grow the brand on the back of the jersey, make a ton of money, and have no regard for the name on the front.

The same kind of culture can kill a church. If a single staff member’s name and influence, including the Senior Pastor, are highlighted more than the mission and vision of the church, when that person goes away so does all of their followers. The work of leaders focused on their own names have no staying power.

I once heard John Maxwell say (and he has probably written it down somewhere) that the measure of a leader is what happens when that leader leaves. In a leader’s absence, if things fall apart, chaos ensues, if followers migrate on, it’s quite probable that leader made too many decisions flow through and about themselves. If the mission and vision carries on in the hands of someone else who has been prepared to take the baton forward the mission will not only sustain, it will thrive and grow.

The mission and vision that God has given you is bigger than you. God forgive us when we make it about us.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul