His comment reminded me of some research we conducted among churches and pastors, examining longevity and impact. We found that church leaders have their greatest impact on the lives of congregants during years five through fourteen of their tenure at a church. Prior to year five they are clarifying, articulating and seeking buy-in of their vision. After year 14 they tend to get stuck in a routine that produces diminishing returns.

Some pastors remain fresh and effective after year 14, but they seem to be the exception to the rule. It is quite easy to become complacent and comfortable in the lead role after a decade and half in the same ministry. Leaders can often justify to constituents their continuation in a comfortable role, but Christian leaders must remember that they answer to the God who called them to leadership – and He will not be fooled.

Great leaders keep reinventing themselves, stimulating both themselves and their organization to reach new levels of impact. That means continually looking at the vision in new ways – coming up with a new vision, but adapting the organization to the ever-changing realities the ministry faces and implementing the vision in new ways and contexts.

But we also discovered that most leaders have a ceiling they must recognize for their leadership abilities, and work within those parameters. Certainly a great leader grows, but part of what makes them great is being realistic about themselves and responding intelligently and honestly to their limitations. Too many leaders engage in denial about their limitations, to the detriment of everyone involved. Great leaders seek situations in which their gifts and abilities are a perfect fit – and they are savvy enough to depart when their abilities are no longer a good match for the circumstances. Operating within one’s limitations is a sign of wisdom not defeat; staying beyond the time when one can add value is selfish and bad stewardship. Learning about these matters from some of the excellent research on the stages of organizational growth is helpful in this regard.