Sermon Central
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10 Leadership Traps To Avoid In Ministry
By Ron Edmondson on Dec 22, 2025
Leadership can either multiply people or suffocate them. These ten destructive leadership traits erode trust, stifle growth, and damage organizations from the inside out.
10 Leadership Traps to Avoid in Ministry
Healthy leadership empowers people, casts vision, and cultivates growth. Yet many leaders unintentionally undermine their organizations through fear, control, laziness, or insecurity. From responsibility without authority to passion-squelching control, these ten leadership failures reveal what weakens teams and prevents people from flourishing. Recognizing and rejecting these traits is essential for leaders who want to build strong, faithful, and effective organizations.
1. Responsibility without authority
If you ask someone to lead something, then let them lead.
2. Small-mindedness
I like big dreams and those who dream them. I’ve never once out-dreamed God. Neither have you.
3. Naysayers
There is always someone who says it can’t be done.
4. Laziness
Not only is it a sin, if it is allowed to fester it can be contagious or disruptive to an organization.
5. Settling
Even if it involves conflict, I want to push for best over mediocre.
6. Popularity seeking
Leaders who say what they think people want to hear in order to be liked drive me nuts. (Not sure they are technically leaders.)
7. Power hunger
Leaders who are easily threatened by others or who always try to control others limit people and organizations.
8. Caution out of fear
I prefer a bold faith every time.
9. Bullied management
Some leaders get their way from force. That seems cowardly to me.
10. Passion squelchers
Leaders should energize others to realize their dreams, not stifle them. What are some things on your list?
