Opening (5 mins):
- Icebreaker question: Share an experience (good or bad) you’ve had with how an organization set up its leadership.
- Question: Why does a clear leadership structure matter so much for a movement like ours?
Our Value #7: We are broad-structured and diverse, yet integrated.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
Who Reports to Whom (15 mins):
- Walk through our reporting structure and why it’s set up this way
- Talk about why leaders at every level need to be easy to reach
- Question: From your culture, what makes a reporting relationship work well?
- Let people share how they see hierarchy, authority, etc.
Our Value #11: We exhibit servant leadership as a lifestyle.
“The greatest among you will be your servant.” Matthew 23:11
How Many People One Leader Can Carry (20 mins):
- Explain “span of control” simply: the number of people each leader directly oversees
- Too many direct reports can overload a leader and make them less effective
- Too few direct reports can add extra layers you don’t need
- Question: From what you’ve seen, what are the pros and cons of a leader having:
- A very large team of direct reports?
- Only a couple of direct reports?
- Talk about what affects the right number:
- Whether the culture expects closer or looser supervision
- How complicated the tasks and roles are
- How experienced the team is
Our Value #14: We value the individual and their gifts/callings.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” 1 Corinthians 12:4
Break (5 mins)
Talking Across Cultures (20 mins):
- Why open communication between leadership levels matters on a team from many cultures
- Question: What can get in the way of communication across cultures and titles?
- Let people share examples (like saving face, power distance, etc.)
- How to keep communication open up, down and across our leadership:
- Set clear expectations for how we communicate
- Make ways to give feedback and safe places to raise concerns
- Use tools that fit different styles (written, spoken, etc.)
Our Value #18: We communicate with integrity – truthfully and relevantly.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become…the whole Body.” Ephesians 4:15
Closing (10 mins):
- Question: How can the way we structure leadership help us lead well across cultures?
- Personal commitment: What is one way you could improve communication in our leadership?
- Recap: Balanced structure, a manageable number of people per leader, open communication
Our Value #13: We are dedicated to being relationship-oriented.
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10
