Think about your last best idea…For me, my best ideas don’t happen in a creative meeting. Creative meetings help me mold my ideas and shape them. It’s in these meetings that I run them through the filter of others…but this meeting is not where they come from. A creative meeting is not when they come from either.
When I do personality and strengths testing things get interesting.
As much as I’m known as being a “systems guy”… as much as I’m known as the old Calculus and Physics teacher… as much as I’m known as the logical guy…Guess what I score highest in over and over again….
I love to build stuff. Show me anything and I’ll tell you how to do it better (at least in my mind!) or differently. Whether its a system for building groups, a staff development plan, or a toaster, I want to create around the idea. I love to make “stuff” work better.
In the end though, I’ve learned that this can be a detriment.
Here’s what I mean.
Alright…before we get started I need you to try something….It’s going to be a bit different…Are you ready? Here we go.
Think through an imaginary conversation where you were asked to describe your ministry.
Now…stop reading and really think through it. Listen to yourself speak.. Listen to the words. Jot the stuff down if you need to.
Let me tell you about your church…#1. You’ve got too much going on.
#2. People want more.
#3. You don’t have the resources or the staff to offer more.
I am currently taking part in an online coaching network with Tony Morgan. We were talking today about the most common disease in churches today…
In my experience it’s easy to get people to admit this but when it comes to cutting programming…no one can figure out where to start. Tony had some good advice and I wanted to pass it on.
So…I just read Part 1 again and started arguing with myself.Here are the counter-points I was making with myself about leading when you are uncomfortable. This stuff is complicated and I can’t seem to come to a clear conclusion.
1. What if the person is making a CLM? (Thats “North Point” for a Career Limiting Move)
2. I am responsible for the outcome as a leader, don’t I have the right to put a stop to something I don’t agree with?
3. So..I’m the boss for a reason right? Where does that part come in?
And…after a cup of coffee…I have answered myself. This is obviously a tension to be managed and not a problem to solve (again…North Point words). You should feel this tension all the time. If you don’t we’ve got a problem.
