When I do conferences or conduct Q&A sessions at one of our events, I’ve learned that many of the questions from growing leaders are based on eliminating tension within their ministry…
How do you deal with parents who are frustrated with other kids in small group?
How do you get your head pastor to partner with you to get new volunteers?
How do you get the old ladies to give us their Sunday School room for the ministry?
While these are great questions—and legitimate problems—often, the people who are asking them appear just as interested in eliminating the tension of their situation as they are in solving the actual problem.
Here’s some truth:
Good programs grow. That leads us to this process…
Step 1: Growth leads to limited resources.
Step 2: Limited resources lead to tensions.
Step 3: Tensions lead to solutions (hopefully).
Step 4: Good solutions lead to better programs.
Step 5: Repeat Step 1.
Here’s reality about tension:
Eliminating tension eliminates growth.
You many not love the tension, but you need to learn to live with it. And, at some level, appreciate it.
If you’re a growing leader, you just need to get this.
If you’re a leader of a growing leader, we need to make sure we remind them that these types of tensions are signs that good things are happening.
Our goal cannot be comfort.
I hope I never work at a comfortable church.
What are the other healthy tensions that you’re dealing with?
“Eliminating tension eliminates growth”. Man I needed to hear that.
We are entering into our third year as an organization and we are beginning to experience this very tension that you are talking about. This truth takes so much pressure off and makes thing okay. I’m going to print this blog out and use it as an outline for our next staff meeting.
Thanks Shef!
Jason Glaze
Thanks Jason,
I love your organization and it’s good to hear your growing. Thanks for checking in. Let me know how it goes with the staff.
Shef
We used this blog as an outline for our staff meeting Wednesday and it went great! We identified some tension that was a product of growth. Things like: Running out of office space, confusion in scheduling, having to get better organized, etc…
This was the best part, after we talked about these tension we actually celebrated them. There was a real feeling of freedom in the room.
Then we discussed the ways that the solutions to these tensions were going to make us a better organization and make room for more growth.
Thanks again!
Jason,
Thank so much for letting me know. I can’t tell you how excited I am that this stuff is getting used in this way. Keep us posted.
Shef