Episode 5 Part 2 - Leading with Purpose: How to Keep Organizations Focused Amidst Growth
Leadership is often mistaken as a journey toward expansion and growth. However, as Pastor Dan Shields explains in a recent Sherpa Leadership podcast, true vision isn't about size—it's about purpose. "God decided we were going to be a large church. We never set out to be a large church," he explains. When organizations focus solely on becoming bigger, they often miss the deeper purpose that actually drives sustainable growth.
Unlike companies that proclaim "I'm going to be a Fortune 500 company," true visionary leadership requires something more substantive. Such superficial goals, according to Shields, actually destine organizations for failure. They lack the depth necessary to inspire genuine buy-in from team members. Without a meaningful "why" behind organizational objectives, team members struggle to connect their daily tasks to a larger purpose.
This connection between individual contribution and organizational vision proves especially critical when managing volunteers. Churches, like many nonprofits, rely heavily on volunteer participation. Shields emphasizes that successful volunteer management isn't about clearly defining tasks but rather helping volunteers understand how their contributions fit into the larger vision. "Quit telling them the job they're volunteering for," he advises. "Continue to cast the vision of what they're doing and where it fits in the vision or the process." When volunteers understand the greater purpose, they stay committed longer and find deeper fulfillment in their service.
The challenge intensifies as organizations grow. Shields identifies one of his primary challenges as "keeping us simple, fresh and focused." With growth comes complexity, and with complexity comes the danger of vision diffusion. Leaders at every level might develop their own interpretations of organizational direction, causing what Shields calls "vision leaks." To counter this tendency, his team conducts bi-yearly vision recalibration sessions, ensuring everyone remains aligned with core objectives rather than drifting toward individual agendas.
This recalibration process includes the difficult but necessary discipline of saying "no" to good ideas that don't align with the central vision. Even brilliant concepts must sometimes be declined if they distract from core objectives or undercut potential leaders. Making these tough decisions requires what Shields describes as "clarity as kindness"—direct communication that values truth over niceness. While many leaders, particularly in church environments, might default to avoiding difficult conversations, true kindness means addressing issues directly rather than allowing problems to fester.
Perhaps most profound is Shields' connection between identity and vision. He observes that leaders whose identity is excessively tied to their professional role inevitably create flawed visions. "If people don't have a great understanding of their identity, they're going to have a real hard time coming up with, accomplishing and leading vision," he explains. This misalignment often manifests in boundary issues, as leaders pour excessive time and energy into work while neglecting family and personal well-being.
The solution lies in establishing clear priorities based on identity rather than achievement. For Shields, this means structuring his calendar according to his identity as a follower of Jesus first, a husband second, and a professional leader third. These boundaries create the framework within which healthy vision can flourish, much like boundaries in athletic competitions create the structure necessary for meaningful play.
Leadership remains a journey of continuous learning, and even the most experienced leaders make mistakes. Shields emphasizes the importance of admitting errors, particularly as organizations grow larger and more successful. Rather than pretending infallibility, effective leaders acknowledge mistakes, creating authenticity that actually draws followers closer rather than pushing them away.
