Five Rhythms of Fractal Leadership: Living the Pattern Together

By David Broodryk

Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash ‍

A couple of years back, our team challenged ourselves: Are there things we're asking others to do that we are not living?

Here's the thing about disciple making: People will do what you do. They will not do what you say.

This led us to identify five rhythms - patterns that emerge when the Holy Spirit moves. These aren't laws to implement, but a common pattern we see through Scripture. We are asking every person in the movement from the newest disciple to the oldest to live these things. Then we have to live them ourselves.

It's been transformative for us as a team.

Rhythm One: Empowering Leadership

How empowering is your leadership?

Empowering leadership is at the core of movement - leaders are there to lift up others and release others, versus control or disempower. Literally to set the example, raise up, then step aside and allow other people to thrive.

Do you dominate or encourage new leaders to emerge?

If I pray for 15 minutes so nobody else knows what to say, I'm dominating. If I speak 90% of the time in meetings, I'm dominating. If I never allow new Christians to emerge and make mistakes, I'm dominating.

Do you constantly train facilitation skills at every level?

You've got to model it, but people don't just pick it up - you've got to train it.

How comfortable are you with other people doing the job not quite as well as you would?

We correct them too quickly, or we step in and take over, or we don't debrief… none of these is good discipling.

Rhythm Two: Abiding Prayer

Does abiding prayer define our team? Do we live lives of abiding prayer? John 17.

How much is prayer a work, a chore, a task? And how much is prayer joy? This isn't about checking a box. It's about prayer that flows from relationship, not obligation.

Rhythm Three: Living on Mission

We're telling other people to go and make disciples. Are we doing it? Every single day? Or do we just celebrate their stories and successes while we don't have our own?

Leaders must have their own stories of making disciples. If we're not doing it, they won't do it.

Rhythm Four: Joy-Filled Belonging

Is it a joy when we get together as a team or is it work? How much joy is there? How much laughter?

The Lord's table was not just a cracker and dry toast. It was a full meal. They ate together with joy and celebrated around tables, not stages.

I asked somebody once, what's the sign of a healthy team? He said, "Lots of laughter!"

Sometimes as we get together to save the world and strategize and plan - we forget to have fun. Something about building community and trust is so important.

How do you handle difficult conversations? How do you sit down with someone and say, "Your breath smells really bad today"?

All of this is connected with joy-filled belonging.

Rhythm Five: Scripture Engagement

Is Scripture central to what we do or do we have plans and strategies and never really look at Scripture?

How are you growing in the Word? What are your personal and communal practices?

Balancing the Five: Recognizing Your Team's Gaps

You've never got a perfect balance. But what's out of whack with your team?

The apostles will say, “We need powerful leaders.” The prophets will say, “We need to pray more.” The evangelists will say, “We've got to be on mission.” The pastors will say, “We've got to build community.” The teachers will say, “You've got to get into the Word.”

But it's really all of these.

Where are you struggling? What is missing? Where are you strong?

Getting Practical

As you think about God's vision for your city and your team:

1) Read John 17. Jesus prays this prayer out of relationship, not routine. Where in your life/your team’s life has prayer started to feel like obligation, and what would it take to return it to relationship?

2) Have an honest conversation with your team about the 5 rhythms. Where are you struggling? What is missing? Where are you strong?

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David Broodryk has been on a long journey into discipleship movements and seeking to see cities impacted by and for Jesus. He and his team now serve teams and leaders in cities all over the world. You can read more from David at davidbroodryk.org/blog/.

© 2026 D. Broodryk. All rights reserved.