In a recent article for ChurchLeaders.com, Mac Lake writes: “Many young leaders haven’t had their first big humbling failure yet. So, they’re idealistic, have all the answers and are quick with an opinion. They believe they have a better way.
“The only problem is they haven’t worn the shoes of leadership long enough to really know. Once they get a few good failures under their belts, they’ll be all the wiser.
“But that’s not a good reason to hold them back from trying.
“Why not allow them to get some failure experience under the watchful eye of a wiser experienced leader?
“I love young, idealistic leaders; they stretch me, and they challenge my thinking. They remind me to trust God rather than logic. They remind me not to say, ‘We’ve never done it that way before.’ Yes, idealism can be dangerous, but it also has its advantages. They tend to think, ‘What if?’ more than a seasoned leader.
“So, what might happen if you intersect the wisdom and experience of a seasoned leader with the enthusiasm and idealism of a young leader?
“When you invest in a young leader this way, you not only help them build their character and competency, but you’re also helping them establish their leadership credibility.
“I’m always amazed when I think about how young some of the great biblical leaders were. Joseph stepped into leadership as overseer of the Captain of the Guard in Egypt at age 17 (
“So, what are you looking for in young leaders? If you’re looking for maturity, perfection, experience, consistency and reliability, you may not find it. But if you look for their strengths, gifts and passion, you can develop the other qualities that will one day make them great leaders.” (Click here to read the full article.)