When we started diving into “shared leadership” as a key conversation for 5Q, I didn’t realize it would become more than a topic—it would be a lived experience. And as our team committed to embodying it, we quickly learned that shared leadership isn’t neat or easy.
Unlike hierarchy, which provides clear lanes and boundaries, shared leadership is relational and messy. It invites a new depth of connection, one that challenges our comfort zones and requires us to wrestle with vulnerability and tension.
This journey stretched me personally. I uncovered my deep desire for harmony and my tendency to avoid conflict. I thought I could embrace shared leadership without confronting hard conversations. But I was wrong.
Last fall, I had a critical meeting where we needed to address transparency and accountability—two pillars of shared leadership. I felt strongly that we needed to set clear expectations to move forward. But instead of speaking up, I stayed silent. I told myself it wasn’t the right time, convincing myself that maybe God would handle it without me.
I was wrong.
The unresolved issues didn’t disappear. Over time, they grew, creating tension. Conversations that should have been simple became strained. I realized my silence had been part of the problem.
Avoiding hard conversations comes at a cost. Shared leadership requires speaking the truth in love, even when it’s uncomfortable. Growth happens in the tension.
Eventually, I owned my failure and addressed the issues I’d avoided. That vulnerable conversation, though difficult, became a turning point. It built trust and set the stage for a culture of transparency and accountability.
This experience reminded me that shared leadership isn’t the practical way but it’s biblical. Jesus didn’t lead alone. He gathered a diverse team and empowered them to lead alongside Him.
In Mark 3:14, we read, “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.” Jesus didn’t just delegate tasks. He built deep relationships.
In John 13, when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. He trusted His team, even knowing they would fail. Shared leadership mirrors the relational and empowering nature of Jesus’ ministry.
Shared leadership reflects the kingdom of God. It’s relational, transformative, and sustainable. While it’s more complex and vulnerable than solo leadership, it multiplies influence, empowers others, and creates lasting impact.
As leaders, we must ask ourselves: Where are we avoiding transparency? How can we embrace the relational depth that shared leadership requires?
The journey isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Shared leadership invites us into deeper trust, collaboration, and alignment with God’s design for community.
Shared leadership is messy, but it’s worth it. It multiplies influence, empowers others, and creates lasting impact. The question is: Are you ready to lead differently?
At 5Q, we’ve designed the Team Dynamics Online Course to help leaders and teams navigate the challenges of shared leadership. This course will help you:
Identify the APEST strengths of your team.
Build trust and transparency within your team.
Navigate hard conversations with clarity and grace.
Create a leadership culture that empowers others.
If you’re ready to move beyond hierarchy and embrace a more biblical, relational, and effective way to lead, check out our Team Dynamics Online Course.
Click here to learn more and enroll today.
Let’s embrace the beauty—and the messiness—of leading together.