After more than fifty years in ministry, I've made just about every leadership mistake in the book. If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: the best leaders aren't the ones who never fail; they're the ones who learn from their failures and keep walking in grace.



Whether you are a seasoned pastor or just stepping into Christian leadership development, these common traps can sabotage your ministry if you aren't careful. Here are seven mistakes to watch for and how to fix them.

1. Trying to Do It All Alone

Leadership in the church isn't a solo act. Moses almost burned out trying it before Jethro told him, "This thing is too heavy for thee" (Exodus 18).

• The Fix: Delegate and disciple. Trust others with the weight.

2. Neglecting Your Own Prayer Life

You can be so busy doing things for God that you forget to spend time with God.

• The Fix: Protect your prayer time like your life depends on it. Your ministry will never rise above your intimacy with the Father.

3. Leading from Performance, Not Reliance

Charisma and experience are great, but they are no substitute for the Holy Spirit.

• The Fix: Surrender your agenda every morning. Your sufficiency is of God, not your own skills (2 Corinthians 3:5).
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4. Losing the Heart of a Servant

The world cares about titles and platforms; Jesus cares about towels and people.

• The Fix: Ask yourself, "Am I serving, or am I being served?" The heart of a shepherd is a servant's heart.

5. Moving Too Fast Through Change

Vision is good, but people aren't microwaves. If you run over them, the change won't stick.

• The Fix: Communicate the why before the what. Give people time to catch the vision.

6. Operating in Secrecy

Closed-door decisions breed suspicion and division.

• The Fix: Transparency builds trust. Walk in the light, communicate clearly, and involve your team.

7. Forgetting That Mercy Leads

When you lead from fear or pressure, you crush people. When you lead from mercy, everything changes.

• The Fix: Lead the way you've been led: with patience, kindness, and relentless grace.

Ready to Lead with Grace?

Your people don't need a perfect leader; they need one who points them to a perfect Savior. If you're looking for more pastoral coaching or resources on ministry leadership training, join us at the W. Austin Gardner Hub for deep dives into these topics.

You can also hear more about these leadership lessons on the Followed by Mercy podcast. Keep walking, keep learning, and keep leaning into grace.