How Rohit Sharma's Wake-Up Calls Challenge Second-Chair Leaders to Lead with Clarity, Humility, and Courage

In a recent article, “Wake-Up Call for Leaders: 12 Eye-Opening Facts You Can’t Ignore”, Rohit Sharma pulls no punches. He lays out a dozen truths that every leader must grapple with in order to lead effectively.

His words are challenging, blunt, and practical.

For Executive Pastors, second chair leaders in the church, these are great reminders. While we aren’t usually the primary vision caster or public face of the church, our leadership profoundly impacts the health and effectiveness of the entire ministry. Sharma’s wake-up calls provide a framework for us to reflect on our own habits and help shape the culture of leadership in our churches.

Below are several key insights from Sharma, with specific applications to the unique role of the Executive Pastor.

1. “If your team is underperforming, the problem might be you.”

Sharma emphasizes that leaders must begin with self-reflection. It’s easy to blame staff, volunteers, or circumstances, but often the issue lies with how we are leading.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• Conduct a regular self-audit. Ask: Am I clear? Am I consistent? Am I empowering, or am I creating bottlenecks?

• Invite feedback from your Lead Pastor and direct reports. Anonymous surveys or one-on-one check-ins can reveal blind spots.

• Model humility by admitting mistakes and demonstrating growth. When the second chair practices this, it sets the tone for the entire staff.

2. “If you can’t handle criticism, you can’t lead.”

Sharma reminds us that leadership invites critique. How we respond to it determines whether trust grows or erodes.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• When criticism comes from congregants or staff, receive it without defensiveness. Listen, thank the person, and reflect.

• Share with your team how you’ve adjusted based on feedback. That transparency shows maturity and builds credibility.

• Coach your staff on healthy ways to offer and receive critique—making this a normal part of your church’s leadership culture.

3. “Your title doesn’t make you a leader—your influence does.”

In Sharma’s words, leadership is about trust and respect, not position. Executive Pastors know this reality better than most.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• Build relational equity. Spend intentional time with staff and key volunteers. Ask questions, listen well, and be present.

• Influence through service. Solve problems before others see them, create clarity where confusion exists, and step in when your pastor needs covering.

• Remember: the second chair often leads through persuasion, not command. Influence grows from trust, not authority.

4. “If you play favorites, you’ll lose credibility.”

Sharma warns that leaders who show favoritism sow division.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• Evaluate how you assign responsibility and recognition. Is it fair? Transparent? Aligned with mission?

• Celebrate the contributions of every team member publicly. Acknowledge volunteers as much as staff.

• If conflict arises around perceived favoritism, address it directly and honestly.

5. “Micromanagement kills leadership.”

This one should sting. Sharma is clear: hovering over people communicates distrust.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• Use clear delegation frameworks: define outcomes, set checkpoints, then release.

• Trust your leaders to deliver and resist the urge to “take it back” when it’s not done exactly your way.

• When mistakes happen, treat them as learning opportunities, not reasons to grab control.

6. “If you’re not developing your people, you’re diminishing them.”

Leadership isn’t about personal success; it’s about multiplying capacity in others.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• Make staff development a non-negotiable part of your role. Provide training, mentoring, and opportunities to stretch.

• Encourage your team to attend conferences, read books, and share insights with the group.

• Identify potential leaders among volunteers and give them room to grow.

7. “If your team is silent, it’s not loyalty—it’s fear.”

Sharma’s point is simple: if people don’t speak up, something is broken.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• Build a culture of psychological safety. Invite dissent, encourage questions, and model vulnerability.

• In meetings, ask: “What’s one thing we’re not talking about that we need to?”

• Thank people for their candor—even when it stings.

8. “Integrity is non-negotiable.”

The final cluster of Sharma’s reminders centers on integrity, ownership, and consistency. Leaders who compromise here may achieve short-term wins but will inevitably lose trust.

Application for Executive Pastors:

• Own mistakes publicly and give credit freely.

• Lead with consistency. Your staff and congregation should know what to expect from you day in and day out.

• Keep short accounts—repair relationships quickly when conflict arises.

A Word for Second-Chair Leaders

Rohit Sharma’s wake-up calls are blunt—but they are exactly what second-chair leaders need to hear. Executive Pastors operate in a unique space: carrying weight without being in the spotlight. That dynamic makes it tempting to excuse unhealthy habits. Sharma’s list challenges us to lead with clarity, humility, and courage.

When we apply these truths, we don’t just make our own leadership stronger. We create healthier teams, a more trusting partnership with our Lead Pastor, and a church culture that reflects the character of Christ.

The wake-up calls are clear. The question for every Executive Pastor is: Will we answer them?