great great stuff - thank you for sending this out!

This is a great list! What if you flipped it? A few areas that could lose a 2nd chair leader?
Being a 2nd chair leader for 8 years I've found that many of us face the same issues with our senior leaders. I have also found that only in extreme cases does this lead to a departure, but understanding what a 2nd chair "needs" could avoid miscommunication and a feeling of frustration.

1- not give honest feedback - I know that we all want to say that we “want” honest feedback, but I truly do. You want to show me that you value me, then be honest when I ask how I am doing. I like to ask these three questions; 1 - Am I doing anything you don’t want me doing? 2 - Am I doing anything you want me to do more of? 3 - Is there anything I am not doing that you want me to start doing?

2- not support their decisions - We all know the horror stories of people going around you to the top in order to get what they want. Being a 1st chair leader in a 2nd chair that screams “I won’t stick up for you” to me. It is my job to make sure that I deflect anything negative, protect my senior leader, even take the “hit” sometimes for decisions that he may decide in order to protect him as the pastor. However, every once in a while there will be an opportunity to either support the authority of your 2nd chair leader or protect yourself. Please, return the favor.

3- allow backdoors - on the same path, don't have relationships that go around the authority of your 2nd chair leader. It is one of the quickest ways to make a 2nd chair leader feel like they are not valued, and not a critical part of the organization.

4- not listen to their needs - we are unique people. Believe it or not, as second chair leaders we are having put aside a lot of personal ambition in order to see the senior leader’s vision become successful. Its in this place that sometimes there will be needs that we will voice to our senior leaders. Please listen to those needs. Most 1st chair leaders serving in a 2nd chair role are rarely complainers, rarely asking for anything for themselves - so when they do, pay attention.

5- assume their loyalty - this sounds bad, but it speaks of a lack of gratitude when a leader begins to assume loyalty. Spend the time and the investment to keep up with the relationship. It is an investment that will return many times more than the time it takes to be grateful.