How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season

by Susan Beaumont

More importantly, I was dismayed at the growing disconnect between the spiritual and organizational lives of congregations. As I worked with governing bodies and staff teams, it was rarely evident that I was working in a faith-based environment.

Our resistance stems from the fact that liminality always begins with an ending, an experience of loss. And humankind resists loss. We also resist the unknowing inherent in “not yet”—the loss of control over our own destiny.

An effective leader will teach people about the importance and value of a liminal season, why they are feeling the way they are feeling, and what they can do with their anxiety.[16]

He detaches himself from any one outcome about the future of worship at Stonecrest Community Church.

Each leader enters the exchange with a consciousness that is not apparent to the other. This causes confusion, and biases are reinforced in the ensuing conversation. The exchange is non-productive, and both leaders feel unheard, offended, and underappreciated. Sound familiar? Let’s figure out what happened.

An effective leader moves continuously between the dance floor and the balcony to develop an expanded awareness of the organization, while influencing what is happening on the dance floor.