Have you ever been in a situation where you weren’t officially the leader, but someone had to lead because no one was?  Leading when you’re not the “leader” is awkward, isn’t it?

First, you don’t want to usurp the leader’s authority.

Second, you don’t want to get in trouble for usurping the leader’s authority!

Third, if you actually like and care about the leader, you don’t want to embarrass them.

Fourth, you don’t want to fail, look bad, and get everyone mad at you, for messing things up!

Fifth, you don’t want to appear power-hungry, proud, impatient, etc., by stepping into the leader’s space.

And everyone else is feeling the same awkwardness—so nothing gets done! 

Meanwhile, that awkwardness builds on itself—not only for the team, but everyone in the room watching it—aware that there’s a GAP of inaction while nothing’s being done about whatever needs to be done.

Before the boat sinks, who’s going to plug the hole?

Before the house burns, who’s going to grab the water hose and run toward the flames?

Before the argument gets out of hand, who’s going to call for a cease-fire and initiate peace?

Before your team loses the game, who’s going to go after the ball?

Before the project fails, who’s going to make sure it gets completed?

Before the silence continues too long, who’s going to speak up?

Before the event lapses due to inertia, who’s going to get things moving again?

In other words—who’s going to take responsibility?  Who’s going to keep the boat afloat, the house intact, the group together, the team from losing, the project on course, the discussion going, and the event rolling?

“This is the leader’s responsibility!”

Yes—true.  But who’s the leader?  At the point of need or crisis, it may or may not be the one with the title.

At this point, whoever takes responsibility becomes the leader.

Whoever steps in, steps up, and takes the initiative to ensure the well-being and safety of everyone concerned, leads.  With or without the designated position.

Case in point:  At my church, I’m one of the worship leaders, as well as a worship-team member. The leaders rotate leading worship for a month at a time.  This (Jan.), is not my month.  It’s someone else’s.  The rest of the team, including me, follows.  We can give suggestions.  We can, and should, pitch in (pun intended) to help the best we can.  But every week, we have one designated leader to eliminate confusion and anarchy and facilitate the optimum result.

What if something goes wrong?  What if something isn’t happening that needs to happen?  Awkward, right?

This happened last Sunday. We were having our combined-congregations/combined-languages New-Year’s service—a taste of heaven. After the sermon, we (the worship team) went up to do the closing song.

That’s when we noticed– our soprano lead vocalist had already left; and the designated worship leader had given his microphone to the senior pastor (also his dad) to use for preaching. 

Did I mention we belong to an ethnic church where respect for authority, especially parental authority, is very highly regarded?

So here’s our designated leader, strumming his guitar for the song’s intro., when he realizes his predicament— how’s he going to start the singing, when his dad, the pastor, has his mike?!

Meanwhile, the rest of us musicians kept playing, feeling his dilemma. 

The leader came up with a strategy— he leaned in next to his dad and tried cueing him in—which could have worked if his dad knew the song well enough.  He didn’t, so he couldn’t start it.

Awkward.

And, due to Covid restrictions, we’ve been live-streaming our services.

Doubly awkward.

Playing the keyboard, I also had a mike– so I started singing the words and led the song.  Someone had to do it! 

The leader/guitarist joined in without his mike.  The other-language singers joined in, including the leader’s dad. Everyone in the room sang.  Hopefully those participating remotely through live-stream sang as well. 

Was leading my position that day?  No.  Is singing my strength?  No.  I’m a weak-voiced alto who harmonizes.  But this time I had to belt out the melody, including high notes, by the strength of the Lord’s Spirit! 

Or else the song wouldn’t have been sung.  Or if it did, it would’ve been way-late, and/or out of rhythm.  And who knows if the guys singing the other language would’ve ever sang?

Did I usurp authority?  No.  I supported them—both the day’s worship-leader and the senior pastor. 

How do we know whether we’re usurping or supporting someone else’s leadership when we step up and take responsibility to lead?

~Our own attitude— is it critical? Proud? Contentious? Or, empathetic?  Humble? Encouraging?

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Phil. 2:3-4

~How it comes across—others can tell what drives our actions.

~How we make the leader look–Do we make the leader look good and save their reputation, or do we make them look foolish and undermine their reputation?

~The results— Does our responsive leadership help and solve the problem/crisis, or does it cause more harm and exacerbate the problem/crisis?

~What happens afterwards—do we readily and gladly hand leadership back to the designated leader as soon as possible, or do we try to hang onto it?

~How the designated leader responds—they know what we’re up to and why we “took the reins” temporarily.

Did I feel awkward and hesitate before starting to sing?  Definitely! 

But a ship with no one at the helm when the captain can’t take it is destined for disaster. 

If we care more about the ship and who’s on it than we do about our own comfort and reputation, we’ll take the helm and guide the ship until the captain is ready to take it back.

Yes, that takes courage, given all the reasons for awkwardness.  But, the promise the Lord gave Joshua in leadership applies to us too:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Josh. 1:9

When we know what to do, how to do it, and know what needs to happen—when the designated leader can’t do it, step up, step in, and lead— with Him, for Him, and under Him!