What does it mean to be a leader? And what does it take to be a great one?

Leadership has been defined as “the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal.” (source) Thus, a leader is one who inspires and directs that collective action.

This requires a certain set of skills and character traits, though experts say you can learn and develop these skills with time and experience. 

You don’t have to be born with all of these skills and traits to be a great leader.

"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." - Vince Lombardi

Leadership looks a little different in a church setting than in the business world. Most of the time, you’re not overseeing a group of employees or working to increase the bottom line.

In church music, leadership looks like motivating a group of volunteers, whether that’s a group of middle-aged or senior adults in your adult choir, a group of volunteers teaching and directing individual groups in your children’s choir program, or a dozen teenagers in your youth choir.

It looks like working collaboratively with a staff (of 2 or 8 or 20). It looks like organizing committees and amateur instrumentalists and people who want to play handbells but can’t read music. It looks like sharing a common goal and inviting people of all walks of life to be part of that.

What does it take to be a great leader in these settings? Here are 26 church music leadership skills and traits for you to consider:

Personal Leadership Skills & Traits for Church Music Directors

This first section includes personal traits and characteristics useful in leadership settings. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good starting place. Remember, if you see a skill on this list that you don’t currently have, you can work to develop it.

Creativity

the ability to see thing from multiple perspectives and generate innovative ideas and solutions

Passion

a deep-seated purpose and intention behind one’s work

Self-Direction

leading oneself without guidance, structure, or oversight from someone else

Humility

seeking out ways to lift others up

Decisiveness

the ability to make decisions

Flexibility

being aware and able to redirect in the moment

Lifelong Learner

the continuous pursuit of knowledge and development of new skills

Independence

the ability to work on one’s own

Patience

the capacity to handle things that don’t go as planned with grace and calmness

Gratitude

the ability to express and demonstrate one’s appreciation

Professional Leadership Skills & Traits for Church Music Directors

This section includes more interpersonal skills and character traits that you might see in business settings, but I think they're also valuable if you’re in a church music leadership position.

Communication

the ability to speak articulately and write effectively to convey information

Organization

maintaining neatness, structure, and systems that help you work more efficiently and effectively as a group

Social Skills

the ability to speak, engage, and communicate with others

Empathy

the ability to relate to others in a variety of situations

Confrontation

the ability to approach and speak calmly and directly to others when problems arise

Respectfulness

showing admiration for another based on their abilities, character qualities, or achievement

Acceptance

to welcome others, regardless of their differences

Proactivity

predicting and anticipating what will happen and taking initiative

Consistency

maintaining a certain level of excellence in preparation, teaching, musicianship, communication, and expectations

Learn the key skills + strategies you need to direct and lead your adult choir with confidence.

Join me inside Music Education and Leadership Skills for the Adult Choir Director, a 2-hour, self-paced, online training course for church musicians.

Packed with practical tools, resources, and strategies you can use right away, you’ll learn the basics of how adults learn, how to teach vocal technique and choral methods, develop sight-reading skills, choose music, and plan rehearsals.

Inspirational Leadership Skills & Traits for Church Music Directors

This final section includes skills and traits related to inspiring others—an important and perhaps even vital category of leadership for those of you in church music director positions.

Motivation

the ability to draw out the will and desire in others to do their best work

Dedication

showing a deep sense of commitment to one’s work

Encouragement

lifting others up with positive words and actions

Listening

the ability to be quiet and hear what others have to say

Confidence

demonstrating a sense of internal drive and pursuit of growth

Empowerment

the ability to equip others with skills and confidence to do things on their own

Trustworthiness

establishing a sense of “assured reliance on [one’s] character, ability, strength, or truth” (source)

There are lots more leadership skills and traits I could have added to this list, but I think this is a good starting place for those of you in church music director positions. I hope this list is helpful to you as you think about ways to continue developing your leadership skills this year.

I'd love to hear from you:

What do you consider your best leadership skills and traits? How have you worked to develop them?

Sources:
101 Best Leadership Skills, Traits & Qualities
Leadership Definition
Inspirational Quotes for Businesses About Leadership
9 Aspects of Being a Great Music Ministry Leader