Do you ever feel like you’re carrying more than you should?

You’ve got vision, but no one’s following it.

Or people love your sermons—but the systems are a mess.

Maybe your church is full of people… but you’re burning out behind the scenes.

If you’re like most pastors I work with, you’re leading from your natural strengths—and unintentionally creating gaps you can’t see. You’re not failing. You’re just leading alone.

Here’s what I’ve learned after years of leading a church and now coaching pastors and teams:

Every pastor has a default leadership style. And if you don’t know yours, you’ll either try to be someone you’re not—or frustrate everyone around you by assuming they should lead like you.

You Lead a Certain Way for a Reason

(But That Style Comes with Strengths and Blind Spots)

Dr. Sam Chand’s work in Leadership Pain gave language to something we’ve all felt:

Most pastors lean into one of four leadership types—and each one comes with unique strengths and watch-outs.

Let’s break them down and help you figure out where you (and your team) fit:

🧭 The Entrepreneur Pastor

“I see what could be—and I’m already building it.”

These pastors live in the future. They cast a vision that inspires people forward, and at times, gives them whiplash. They thrive on whiteboards and chase the “what’s next” with passion and boldness.

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard… the things God has prepared.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:9

They’re pioneers. They also make some people nervous. But they lead churches into necessary new territory.

• • Strengths: Vision casting, rallying people, pushing boundaries
  • Watch-outs: Can leave people behind, ignore systems, or chase too many ideas at once

💙 The Shepherd Pastor

“I knew something was off before you said a word.”

Shepherds lead with empathy. They feel the room. They’re not in a hurry to fix things—they sit in the tension, just like Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:

“We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel… but our lives as well.”

They embody care, compassion, and a sense of community. The church isn’t just a mission—it’s a family.

• • Strengths: Pastoral care, relational trust, emotional insight
  • Watch-outs: May resist change, avoid confrontation, or lack directional clarity

🔥 The Teacher/Preacher Pastor

“Give me a Bible and a pulpit—and watch me go.”

These pastors light up in the Word. They connect timeless truth to today’s problems and see Sunday as the highlight of the week. They live out 2 Timothy 4:2:

“Preach the word… correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

They’re gifted communicators. But sometimes, the church becomes overly dependent on their gift—while cracks form behind the scenes.

• • Strengths: Biblical insight, inspiring communication, disciple-making
  • Watch-outs: May neglect leadership development, ignore culture issues, or build around themselves

🧠 The Administrator Pastor

“We can’t grow if we don’t build it right.”

Admin Pastors bring structure to the chaos. They care about org charts, pipelines, and systems that help people sustain the mission—not just start it.

“To equip his people for works of service…”
— Ephesians 4

They often work behind the scenes, but they are the glue holding the church together.

• • Strengths: Strategy, implementation, team alignment
  • Watch-outs: May stall in messiness, frustrate visionaries, or miss individuals for the sake of process

So… Which Pastor Are You?

Chances are, one of these types felt like reading your journal.

That’s good. Self-awareness is powerful. But here’s the thing: you can’t do this alone.

• Entrepreneurs need Administrators to turn ideas into systems.
• Shepherds need Preachers to articulate truth with clarity.
• Teachers need Shepherds to ensure care isn’t lost in content.
• Admins need Entrepreneurs to keep dreaming about the future.

The healthiest churches I work with aren’t led by one superstar—they’re built on interdependence.

The churches that grow strategically and disciple effectively all have this in common: diverse leaders working together.

How I Help Pastors Like You Thrive in Your Leadership Lane

No matter what kind of pastor you are, you don’t need to become someone else. You just need the right strategy and team around you.

Here’s how I help pastors lean into their strength—without leading alone:

🧭 Entrepreneur Pastors

I help you clarify your vision, prioritize your ideas, and build systems and structures that bring your dreams to life—without burning out your team.

💙 Shepherd Pastors

I help you navigate change without compromising care. Together, we build leadership pipelines and strategy around your empathy so growth doesn’t feel cold or corporate.

🔥 Teacher/Preacher Pastors

I help you develop leaders, design discipleship strategies, and strengthen your back-end systems—so your church doesn’t rely solely on your sermons.

🧠 Administrator Pastors

I help you zoom out, think beyond operations, and create environments where innovation, care, and preaching can flourish—on a healthy foundation.

Remember, you don’t need to be great at everything. You need a plan that leverages your unique strengths and talents as God has wired you.

DOWNLOAD this graphic HERE.

Call to Action

Want help identifying your leadership types and building the support you need to grow?

Let’s work together:

• ✅ Schedule a FREE Leadership Evaluation with Gavin
• ✅ Book a Church Accelerator Workshop for your team
• ✅ Partner with me through consulting or coaching

Don’t lead alone. Build a team that complements you.

Quotes to Share

“Leading from your strength alone can create gaps your church can’t afford.”
“Your leadership style isn’t bad—it’s just incomplete without a team.”
“Great churches aren’t built by superheroes. They’re built by interdependent teams.”

One More Thing…

At Church Accelerator, we offer consulting, workshops, content, and community to help churches break through barriers and grow.

Work with us in the way that best works for you:

✅ RESOURCES: Save 49 hours every month for only $49.

✅ WORKSHOPS & WORKING SESSIONS: Experience our Church Accelerator Workshop, a 2-day process with your core team where we clarify your vision, dream about your future, discover your current reality, and design an actionable plan.

✅ CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS: Great churches don’t happen by accident. We coach and consult with churches with fewer than 100 attendees to churches with over 10,000 to improve discipleship pathways, communication and preaching, church engagement, and church leadership.

✅ ON-DEMAND EXECUTIVE: Add me to your executive team conversations and get a fresh perspective through a personal partnership.

Starting at just $49 – 🚀 Don’t wait—become a partner today.

Leading WITH You,
Dr. Gavin Adams