As leaders, we are looked to for answers. We are expected to navigate the unknown. Many times we are the role model. The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV). I get it, it comes with being a leader. But what happens when the leader doesn’t know the answer? What happens when the pastor loses his way? What about the followers when the leader makes a bad moral judgment. Leaders are human.

These thoughts came to my mind this week when I heard of another pastor resigning his post due to moral failure. It happens. The pressures of leading today are many. Culture is constantly changing in our high tech, information driven world. It is hard to keep up even for the most tech savvy leader. And I am not in anyway excusing the sin. What I am wondering is how does it happen? Where did the problem start and how did it go unnoticed? Was it at all avoidable? I want to give some safeguards that every leader needs to have in their life – no matter the size of the organization or how many people are following your example.

1. Humility – Many leaders fail because they believe they can’t. Whether it was a quick rise to the top or the wrong people surrounding them, many forget where their success actually comes from and that while we plant and water, only God can cause the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6) Humility is having a correct view of who we are. Paul, arguably the greatest missionary in the history of the church, understood he was the chief of sinners and could only boast in the Lord. A humble spirit allows us to keep success in the right perspective.

2. Transparency –  When leaders fall, they many times acknowledge that they didn’t have the right people around them. People who who ask good questions, the hard questions. In order to avoid the pitfalls of leadership, a leader will have others around them with which they can be totally honest. This type of transparency evolves over time as this group of people builds trust. We have to have a place to share struggles, weaknesses, thoughts that aren’t ready for the Board room or pulpit.

3. Learner – As soon as a person stops learning they stop leading. With the constant change of culture, leaders must constantly be adding to their knowledge and applying the things they are learning. While it is important to be mentoring the rising stars coming behind you, a leader must have a mentor of their own. Someone to help guide them through maze that is leadership of people. Leaders are readers is a phrase that has always stuck with me

4. Time away – Every engine runs out of gas. The trick is to know when to fill up before you reach empty. Since our bodies and minds don’t come with a fuel gauge, we have to schedule in regular time away from the work world. We must constantly cultivate the relationships at home that are ultimately the most important. Pastors with moral failure almost always admit that somewhere along the way they and their spouse began to grow apart. Regularly date your spouse and periodically head to the beach or mountains, your success depends on it.

All leaders have to live up to the expectations placed on their lives, and live down the stereotypes society has of the position. No matter the size of the organization or church, no matter the popularity or fame that comes with the position. We are all human and share a fallen genetic makeup that makes us susceptible to failure – be it wrong decisions professionally or morally. At some point we will fail, or at least not fully succeed. Humility, transparency, learning, and recharging are all ways to help us fail with the least amount of impact to the church, company, or followers that looking to us for the answers.