Just as a family's needs and dynamics change through different seasons of life, so organizations mature through different stages in their life-cycle, and the style and role of leaders needs to adapt accordingly. Often the most effective type of leadership at the beginning becomes the very thing that hinders further growth later on. A wise leader must change their leadership style to match the current needs of the church or organization. If not, the leader begins to burn out and growth comes to a halt. Fortunately, this organizational life-cycle is predictable. What are these typical stages of development? How can a leader learn to shift “leadership gears” in order to enable continued growth?
