Why Lone Ranger Leadership Doesn’t Work

Even if you’re not old enough to remember the Lone Ranger program, you probably recognize the term to describe someone who “rides alone.” He may be powerful and seemingly heroic, but he tends to be a loner.  Here, though, is why that leadership style doesn’t work in a church:  

1. It’s not biblical. I don’t think the Bible demands a plurality of elders as the only local church polity, but I do think creation demands that we do not work alone. God made us with a need for other human beings (Gen. 2:18). 
2. It’s dangerous. The possibility of moral failure and falling increases when we’re lone rangers. It’s a lot more difficult to fall if another believer locks arms with us, pushing us to be godly. 
3. It can be lonely. Leadership is naturally difficult, and a leader must at times take stands that are unpopular and isolating. We especially need men and women who walk with us in those times.  
4. It limits needed input. Lone ranger leadership assumes the leader gets it right most of the time (if not all the time), but without ideas and feedback from others. Nobody I know is smart enough to never need help from others. 
5. It inadvertently promotes arrogance. That happens when we work alone; if we act like we don’t need anyone else, we begin to think that’s the case. It’s not reality, however.  
6. It tends to look down on others. “Nobody else can do the work as well as I can,” says the lone ranger. That’s often one reason he invites no one else to the table.
7. It’s high risk. If the church struggles when I’m the only leader, the full weight of the conflict rests on my shoulders. If it struggles under shared leadership, others bear the responsibility with me – and we together can consider options for renewal.  
8. It’s not even leadership. It can’t really be leadership if we’re the only one in the conversation. 

Be honest – on a scale of 1-10 (with “1”=a complete lone ranger, and “10”=one who operates fully with shared leadership), where are you? Tell us how we can pray for you.