Archives For strategy

Spyglass on a Map

Let Them Be – We Need Explorers

May 14, 2012 — 3 Comments

We believe in conventional wisdom, in tried and true ways, and in what the experts tell us.

Good.

That’s a great place to start. However, when someone comes up with a new idea–a church decides to try something else, someone suggests the conventional paths are full of potholes, or the “tried and true” ways are simply tried ways, they need not be labeled as “stubborn” or “arrogant.” One certainly can be so. But, one can be stubborn or arrogant whether one believes in conventional wisdom or not. Those who chart their own course should be encouraged to do so.

I’ve been re-reading A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin Friedman. It’s probably the finest book on leadership I’ve ever read, but it’s lesser known–because it was unavailable through all conventional means until a few years ago.

Among other things, Friedman makes the case for the self-differentiated leader–someone who:

  • is someone who has clarity about his or her own life goals, and, therefore, someone who is less likely to become lost in the anxious emotional processes swirling about.
  • is someone who can separate while still remaining connected, and therefore can maintain a modifying, non-anxious, and sometimes challenging presence.
  • is someone who can manage his or her own reactivity to the automatic reactivity of others, and therefore be able to take stands at the risk of displeasing.

He says:

“…those who lack self-definition, whether they are children, marriage partners, employees, clients, therapists, or supervisors, will always perceive those who are well-defined to be ‘headstrong.’ As with Columbus, they will describe well-differentiated leaders as compulsive rather than persistent, as obsessive rather than committed, as foolhardy rather than brave, as dreamers rather than imaginative, as single-minded rather than dedicated, as inflexible rather than principled, as hostile rather than aggressive, as bull-headed rather than resolute, as desperate rather than inspired, as autocratic rather than tough-minded, as ambitious rather than courageous, as domineering rather than self-confident, as egotistical rather than self-assured, as selfish rather than self-possessed–and as insensitive, callous, and cold rather than determined. Such sabotage will be cloaked in supposed virtues likes safety and togetherness.”

All this is to say–good leaders don’t always perfect what’s already in the book. They help write the next chapter over the objections of those who helped write the early chapters and think the book is largely closed.

Listen to what’s already been written. Understand there’s good reason why conventional wisdom has become such. But, never fail to go where God leads because others might think you a fool. It’s far more foolish to ignore God’s leading and listen to humans.

Not every impulse or dream is of God. Sometimes it’s not divinely given, but it’s an idea that’s worth exploration anyway. Go for it, and remind those who are inappropriately attached to conventional wisdom that it was someone’s new, hair-brained idea at some point.

The earth used to be flat.

Everything used to orbit around earth.

Eggs are good for you.

Eggs are bad for you.

Eggs are so-so for you.

Ministry has it’s equivalents and always needs to leave room for well differentiated leaders to explore with encouragement from those who have been the thought leaders for years. Because the goal is the advancement of the Kingdom, not the preservation of our own legacies.

Thoughts? 

In Books, Christianity, Church Strategy, conflict, Leadership, Leadership Vault, Religion, Science , , , , ,
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Lead Yourself

Lead Yourself

May 1, 2012 — 1 Comment

Lead YourselfWe Christians fancy ourselves as those striving to be “selfless.” After all, we follow one who came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. We are to be serious about God’s mission. All of this should lead one away from thinking about oneself very often.

Indeed, self-absorption is wrong. Self-absorption or selfishness is different than understanding we cannot fix others or motivate the unmotivated. We can only really fix and lead ourselves.

Leadership isn’t about telling others what they must do and motivating them to do it. Leadership begins with a clear sense of one’s own calling and a focus on self-leadership.

When a leader spends his or her energy trying to motivate the unmotivated rather than managing themselves, they can fall into the trap of selfishness unknowingly and attempt leadership at a lower level than they need to. To illustrate just one way this happens: When I’m focused on others inappropriately I inevitably begin comparing myself to them. I tend to aggrandize my virtues and leadership in my own mind while diminishing their “followership.” I may think, “Why can’t they get this?” “Why don’t they care as much as I do?” “Why can’t they just obey what Jesus calls them to do?” These are the questions of one trying to be faithful through others, rather than with others.

Begin with self-leadership. The healthier, more differentiated we are, the better leaders we become. And, ironically, more selfless. We are more patient. We are more able to serve with others without using them. We are more effective, godly leaders.

The emotional and spiritual field created by a healthy, self-led and self-differentiated leader is what leadership really is. It isn’t persuading others to do what they aren’t doing or don’t want to do.

 

 

In Christianity, Church Strategy, Leadership , , , , ,
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goodlosercover

How to Be an Awesome Loser

April 25, 2012 — 3 Comments

No one wins all the time. In the church world, it’s even confusing to know what’s a win and what’s a loss.

On our better days, we know what a win is–and we know it can sometimes look like a loss.

Sometimes, though, we just don’t get it done. The idea doesn’t work. The offerings aren’t there. Something beyond our control puts a damper on something we hoped would make a huge difference. It just didn’t happen.

I learned a long time ago that part of being a “winner” in God’s eyes was being a good loser. That’s to say, don’t stop trying, stop creating, stop searching, or stop risking just because something didn’t work. Don’t kick the dirt, cuss or throw a fit. Don’t lose faith or be discouraged easily. Don’t let naysayers convince you’re an idiot that shouldn’t try anything like that again.

Learn everything you can from it and move on.

Thank God for teaching you something through it.

And move on, more wise (hopefully) than you were before.

Lose well, my friends, for losing well is foundation for winning well down the road. Trying or doing almost anything means making yourself vulnerable to failure. So, when you win…celebrate and give God the glory. When it doesn’t happen, lose well…and you’ll give God glory anyway.

In Christianity, Church Strategy, Leadership, Personal , , , , ,
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walking in snow

The Wisdom of the 20-Mile March

April 23, 2012 — 5 Comments

walking in snowChurches that grow quite rapidly get a lot of press. They’re rare. I love studying such churches, and have no problem with anyone growing rapidly or “getting press” as a result. However, a much better, doable way to build a healthy church over the long haul is the through what Jim Collins and Morten Hansen call the 20-mile march.

It’s a hiking concept they illustrate beautifully in the book. To simplify, if you’re heading out on a monstrous hike across the U.S., your best chance of success on schedule is to hike the 20 miles per day, resisting the urge to hike less or more. Hike 20 miles on the hilly, snowy days. Hike 20 miles on days with perfect weather whne one could hike further. Absolutely complete 20 miles, and no more, every day. This keeps one from either falling behind causing one to need to overexert oneself to catch up or burning up energy/resources that may be needed later. There is a time to stretch, but that may be when the elements make the day’s 20-mile march nearly impossible.

Collins and Hansen write: “The 20 Mile March is more than a philosophy. It’s about having concrete, clear, intelligent, and rigorously pursued performance mechanisms that keep you on track. The 20 Mile March creates two types of self-imposed discomfort: (1) the discomfort of unwavering commitment to high performance in difficult conditions, and (2) the discomfort of holding back in good conditions.” (45)

Collins and Hansen again: “…if you want to achieve consistent performance, you need both parts of a 20 Mile March: a lower bound and an upper bound, a hurdle that you jump over and a ceiling that you will not rise above, the ambition to achieve and the self-control to hold back.” (44)

One of the reasons I like to the 20-mile march concept for churches is that it hinges on faithfulness, rather than factors beyond our control–location, money, star power of the pastor, etc. If churches and their leaders focused on complete their 20-mile march each year, at least two things would happen:

1) Churches would head down fewer rabbit trails and avoid overextending themselves financially and otherwise.

2) More churches on the whole would experience at least stability and likely growth.

You see, at the same time some churches don’t want to be limited to 20 miles a day, others don’t want to have to move much on any day. The 20-mile march spurs the idle or stuck, and brings at least some discipline to the mustangs. Some might say, “We can hike further than that!” Maybe. But, Collins and Hansen’s analysis of thousands of organizations would suggest it’s likely unanticipated factors will cause major hardship down the road.

Over time, the tortoise beats the hare…every time. Though, Collins and Hansen aren’t suggesting anyone be a tortoise.

Figure out where you want to go. Then, discern what a 20-mile march looks like for your church. Then, maybe a 5-year plan looks like the completion of 5, 20-mile marches rather than an amorphous blob of futuristic stuff.

Thoughts?

In Books, Christianity, Church Strategy, Leadership, Productivity , , , , , , ,
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Church Plant

Lessons Learned from Starting a New Church

April 17, 2012 — 5 Comments

Though it’s only been a year, I’m thinking a lot about what we’ve learned from the mistakes we’ve made thus far, and the decisions God has blessed as well. New Vintage began both with some advantages uncommon to a new start, but also some challenges most plants never have to face. Few get to script their own dream beginning. It’s what you do with the beginning you get that matters most.

It seems to me, thus far, much of being effective starting a new church is similar to effective ministry in an established church. But not completely. A different set of gifts is most important (relationality, resourcefulness, steadfastness, ability to hit the ‘curve-ball’), and some gifts vital in established church ministry aren’t as important right now (strategy, change management, etc.). All of these matter–or will soon. All clubs need to be in the bag. However, in starting a new church, you’ll use three or four clubs more than the others.

Here are some other learnings. I offer them not as any kind of “expert,” but rather as an observer from one year in one new church:

  • On some things, church-planting experts couldn’t be more right. Spiritual warfare in church-planting is especially fierce. It is challenging in ways I have never experienced. It’s brutal on the discourageable, anxiety-producing for those who need financial “security,” and frustrating to those who need to see quick, positive results. Spiritual preparation for starting a new church is vital–if not altogether more important than the “plan.” A heart for lost people is essential. Yep, yep, yep, and yep. However…
  • On some things, church-planting experts couldn’t be more wrong. You don’t have to have much money to start–in fact our financial struggle has actually blessed us in some amazing ways. You don’t have to wait a couple of years to work out the perfect strategy or go through intensive training–provided you know, somewhat, what you’re doing before you decide to plant and spend time reading some of the best books on the subject. Let me be clear on this–they are right to recommend these things as best practices. However, what I’m saying is, the degree to which these recommendations have become doctrine may be doing some harm. There is more than one way to start and sustain a new church. Embrace best practices without allowing them to become Scripture.
  • You cannot plan for what lies ahead. You can try, and you should. But, when you start a new church you have absolutely no idea what’s coming your way–bad, and good. I’ll add that this can be said about ministry in general, but the variables and vulnerabilities of a baby church add more chances for Murphy’s law to become prophecy in the life of that church.
  • Steadfastness is underrated. Charisma is overrated.

In the end, like all ministry, it comes down to loving God, loving others, loving the Lost, and leadership. Pursue all those “L”s whether you are in an established church or are thinking about starting one.

Here’s one closing thought: Living in the community in which we started the church for a couple of years before hand has turned out to be a huge blessing. We know the city better, have more relationships with those we are trying to reach, community ties, etc. I don’t think the answer is to have planter go live somewhere for a couple of years before they start the church–unless they are working a secular job. It’s a slow and far too expensive to pay someone for a year or two of getting to know people and planning. The better way is for people to plant in a place they know well already: a hometown, a place they lived for some time, etc. Two of our four founding staff members were native Southern Californians, and the other two have lived in SoCal for a decade or more.

If you’re thinking about planting a church, consider a place you know and love. Certainly don’t let this discourage you from going wherever you feel God is calling you. People planting vibrant, growing churches on “foreign” soil happens all the time. However, it might be the mission field you’re best equipped to serve is the one you’re in or have been in the past.

That’s it for now :)

Thoughts?

In Christianity, Church Planting, Church Strategy, Leadership, New Vintage Church, Personal , , , , , , ,
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