Taking the First Step
“Someone has to go first. Why not let it be you?”
Practice
Noticing: Take time to observe.
Walking and Biking: Biking is a wonderful way to truly see your neighborhood in the summer.
Initiating: Small gestures build community.
Asking Meaningful Questions: Ask questions with intentionality.
Prayer Walking: It’s as simple as it sounds: you walk and pray.
When we think about leadership, we often picture roles “out there”—at work, church, or on a nonprofit board. But leadership starts closer to home—right in our neighborhoods. No matter where you live—condo, apartment, or cul-de-sac—there are simple, powerful ways to lead. Sociologists say we all have five “neighborhoods”: familial (extended family), relational (friends), digital (online presence), psychographic (shared-interest groups), and geographic. Jesus calls us to love all our neighbors, but let’s focus on our literal, geographic ones.
Leadership in our neighborhoods doesn’t need to be grand or official, but it can be powerful and effective. One foundational posture and principle at the core of neighborly leadership is this: taking the first step. Taking the initiative to do something, even something seemingly small, rather than waiting for someone else to do it. Here are five ways you can take the first step.
Step 1: Noticing: We often rush in and out of our homes without truly seeing our neighborhood. Take time to observe: Who’s new? Who’s been here the longest? Who has kids? Who do you see often or rarely? Taking the step to notice opens doors to leading.
Step 2: Walking & Biking: As the weather allows, walking and biking become easy on-ramps to serve and lead in your neighborhood. A short walk—even five minutes—helps us see things we miss in cars. Biking is a wonderful way to truly see your neighborhood. It’s hard to lead our neighborhood if we don’t first know it.
Step 3: Initiating: Waving is nice, but what if we took it a step further? Introduce yourself to someone you’ve never met. Relearn a forgotten name with humility: “I know we met before, but I’m blanking on your name.” Small steps of initiation build community.
Step 4: Asking Meaningful Questions: It’s tempting to ask common questions such as, “How long have you lived here?” or “What do you do?” But what if we strove to ask questions with a bit more intentionality, such as: “What do you love most about our neighborhood?” or “How could we make this a better place to live?” Then, take the next step to truly listen.
Step 5: Prayer Walking: I love prayer walking my neighborhood. It’s as simple as it sounds: you walk and pray. As you pass different dwelling places, streets, or parks, pray for whatever comes to mind. You could ask yourself, “What is worthy of celebrating here? What are people afraid of? Where is there suffering and pain?” Don’t overthink it. It could be specific or general, it could be a prayer of blessing or a prayer for healing. You could pray out loud or simply to yourself. You could prayer walk by yourself or with others.
Leading in our neighborhoods doesn’t require a title—just a heart willing to notice, connect, and care. The first step to lead is yours to take.
J.R. Briggs is the Founding Director of Kairos Partnerships, where he equips leaders and organizations through coaching, consulting, and spiritual formation. He lives in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, where his love for leaders shapes his commitment to local presence and leadership formation.