Associate leadership has been called by many names – second-chair leadership, leading from the middle, followership, middle management or simply being second-in-command. Regardless of what it is called, associate leadership is about OTHER people. The associate leader leads to the tempo of another person’s vision. The associate leader accomplishes that vision through other people’s actions. He creates this essential link between the senior leader’s vision and the follower’s action.

As both a follower and leader, the  associate leader lives in the shadow of her senior leadership in ways that few other people ever recognize. Whether he is called a Worship Pastor, an Operations Director, or a Youth Pastor, his role is not limited to a formal job description. It is defined by the contours of the strengths and weaknesses of the Lead Pastor. It is doing whatever needs to be done, filling in the gaps, and making things happen.

As she leads others, she seeks to challenge, inspire, and disciple through on the job coaching and training. His goal is to balance ministry excellence with developing people beyond their current capacities. The associate leader may seem to always be focused on details, but she infuses each of those details with the energy of the big picture. As he leads in these ways, he never draws attention to himself. She focuses attention on the mission of the organization and the vision of the senior leader.

You may be a full-time pastor, or you may be by vocational. You may not see yourself as a pastor at all, but as a high capacity volunteer. You may think of yourself more as a leader or you may think of yourself more as a follower.  But if you serve as the essential link between the senior leader’s vision and other people’s actions, then you are an associate leader. At associate leadership we are here to help you be the best associate leader you can be because when associates lead well, vision becomes reality.