problems

Vision: You’re Doing It Wrong. Three Common Mistakes Leaders Make Relating to Vision

Churches and businesses are drawing close to the time when they will begin to gather and open in groups once again. Pastors, staffs, and business owners are going to make decisions regarding reopening their doors and gather in groups. While they have gained new ways of doing things (Zoom meetings, social distancing, sanitizing, etc.) its’ natural tendency is to go back to “normal” — but they are in a day that their “old normal” just can not continue. Churches and businesses have to change, but it is the vision of the organization that will allow it move through these unknown and treacherous times.

Focusing on the issues and changes that need to be made will keep you away from the vision if you allow it, but one would do it to their own peril. The following are three things that many leaders get wrong — it is the vision that will allow them to navigate through these tough decisions.

1. Mistake#1 – Vision is Not About Fixing Problems.

Vision is not seeing perceived problems that need to be fixed and then designing a plan to fix those problems. Fixing problems is on the job description for a leader, but it is not vision. A skillful leader can fix problems all the day long but never show vision.

The leader who falls into this category is stuck in maintenance mode. Nehemiah did not fix the walls because they were broken. The broken walls changed how God’s people were living, so the walls had to be built so that people’s lives would be changed. When we are only about fixing problems we have actually lost sight of the vision. Casting vision and pushing it through the organization will cause all kinds of issues, it actually creates problems.

A good vision will allow people to clearly see where the organization is going, there will be people who don’t want to go on this trip, and others will want to get on the bus with you. But don’t expect it to be clean and neat, and that everyone will be happy.

2. Mistake #2 – Vision is Not a Group Project.

A vision can be shared, but it cannot be developed by the organization, it has to come from the leader. Visions spread and are adapted as they grow throughout an organization. They begin to take a life of their own in different ways, but it is a guiding force from the top of the organization.

The top leader has to constantly push the vision because it will get lost among the masses. The organization as a whole cannot push the vision forward without the main leader encouraging them to do so. God does not give multiple visions to multiple people, He gives one vision to the main leader. If He did there would be chaos.

This is not to say that counsel should not be sought after before developing a vision or even letting key leaders have input into the process. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” But once they have been heard and their advice taken into account, it is the main leader who sets the vision.

3. Mistake #3 – Vision Is Not ALL About Making Changes.

Beginning something new, ending something that is not working, or making changes, is not vision. Changes are tools that allow you reach or achieve the vision. You can change how you are structured, hire or fire employees, etc. but these are changes that make organizations healthy and stable. Once the organization is stable, healthy, etc. you still have to ask and answer the question “Why are we doing this?” and you have to have an answer (and ask it again, and again, and again, ad nauseam).

Big Ideas and Bumps in the Road (Part One)

images A goal began to develop in my mind last year when my wife and I went to a Children’s Ministry conference in Orlando, FL. We noticed that there were many people wearing medals from running in a marathon, and half-marathon. I began to think of all my attempts to get into shape and how they had slumped off after six to eight weeks of going to the gym. Something had always come up that broke my workout routine and it would be months before I would go back, where I would essentially start over. I realized that I needed a goal, something to work towards. My plan was finalized when at Centri-kid camp where I had forgotten something in my room and had to “run” back and get it. When I had run approximately 100 yards and was very winded, I thought, “I have got to get back into shape.”

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So, I have a goal of running a half-marathon in January at Disney in Orlando, Florida. I have been training over seventeen weeks and feel pretty confident that I will at least finish the race. In the last couple of months as my runs have gotten progressively longer my feet have begun to hurt so that I am hobbling around bent over in pain. My last long run was over a week ago and as I sit here writing my feet are throbbing. The condition is called Plantar Facetious (for more information go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004438/).

So let me tell you about my â€œbig ideaâ€ that I had over six months ago. The plan is to take the whole family down on Friday afternoon to Disney. Spend the night at Animal Kingdom Resort Hotel. I will get up and run the race early in the morning, then come back to the room, clean up, rest some, then afterwards hit Animal Kingdom at Disney when it opens, and then at some point in the evening drive back home. Sounds awesome, right?

We have already paid for the race, the hotel room, and will buy park tickets upon our arrival. I know it sounds exhausting, but I think this is a great way to get the whole family to be apart of the race, to go to Disney, and be able to do it with one nights stay. Christmas presents this year even revolved around this trip to Disney. But there is a looming issue of me not being able to walk after a long run (sometimes even for days afterward).

Unknown 1 So, after some research (on Google of course) and being about two weeks from the race, I am going to try taping my feet before a long run. (There are some great youtube videos discussing the topic of taping). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z2XlqsuQSY

This seems to be the cheapest alternative, especially in light of limited time to solve this problem. My way of solving the problem so far has been not run, or to run shorter distances. This option does not help me to remain conditioned to where I need to be for the half-marathon. So Iâ€™m planning to try taping tomorrow for a long run (10 miles or so).

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In leadership (and life) there will be some big goals or projects that you may attempt. If you are not attempting big things or big goals then you are not leading; you are maintaining. Leadership does involve maintenance and stability, but for the ultimate objective of moving the organization forward toward its purpose. Â If there are no goals, or mountains to be climbed then work tends to be easily broken off by daily immediate concerns, and the organization can get derailed from its ultimate purpose. So, set some big goals, when problems arrive keep working at solutions until you have an answer, and finish the race.

To read the second part of this article click here.

When Our Plans Are Changed By Providence

This was the last day of our mission trip to Guatemala. We were able to see hundreds at various medical clinics, worship with locals, scout out a potential church building, and we even had the favor of the local mayor in one of the cities who told us “you can do whatever you want in this city.”

With all of our excitement and experiencing God do a wonderful work through us and being able to see indescribable things there is still the desire to come home. Our team having seen suffering children and extreme poverty want to hold their loved ones in their arms and to be “home.”

Change of plans are a common occurrence on the mission field, but when you cross the line into domestic USA we want consistency, rhythm returned, and life to go back to normal. Knowing that you are forever changed by what you have experienced you still clamor for a return to normalcy.

Then comes the hiccup in the plans. As our team is pulling out of the airport, literally twenty-five fee, the bus breaks down. After hours of trying to fix it, we were shoved toward the indignant “plan B.” oh, how I hate “plan B.” It means something in my plan failed. We were delayed for hours, even more money must be spent on van rentals to get the team back, and an exhausted team now must endure even more travel.

What could possibly by good about “plan B” and why would God make us go through it? Didn’t we prayerfully plan, and systematically budget? Didn’t we work hard on the mission field?

When you find yourself in “plan B” try to remember and consider the following;
1. God can do whatever He wishes, He is God and we are the humans. The sovereign omnipotent One owes us no explanation for how He runs His creation.

2. God is love. His very essence is one of love and compassion. So, when you feel the pinch of inconvenience know that God is loving doing something. Trust Him and His Love. Have faith that this is for His glory.

3. It may not be about you. Our minds tend to drift toward thoughts like, “we were protected from some accident” or “He is helping us to have more patience,” etc. But it may just be that God is moving us along a different “route” in order to use us as an instrument in His hand. Don’t constantly look for reasons, instead lean into Christ and trust Him. Smile.

Decision Making and Problem Solving

Inevitably when you are a leader you will have to deal with problems. How a leader deals with these troubling circumstances and leads through them is what determines if he/she is a good or “desperately in need of improvement” leader. If you have ever agreed to hold a position where others in the room look to you for what to do when things go wrong then you need to have at least thought about a process for dealing with these problems. In large organizations they call them “contingency plans” but most of us don’t have shelves of three-ring binders we can flip through when disaster comes upon us.

One of the best skills a leader can posses is dealing with problems before they arise (through prayer, advanced planning, training, etc.) but eventually now matter how much you plan there will be times when problems find their way into your life and you have to deal with them.

First and foremost a spiritual leader desires to know the will of God’s concerning what directions or actions they should take. So as one prays, studies Scripture, and contemplates the circumstances consider the following:

Questions to Answer
Am I committed to doing God’s will in this situation? (Romans 12:1-2)
Sometimes the answer is easy and His will is plain, but we are not willing to do it. It may require us to confront someone who will have their feelings hurt, or we know they will become angry, or we may even lose our job (or place of ministry, or at least we think we will).

Sometimes the decision is not so clear, but we must commit to doing God’s will in each step that we know what to do, and when His will is clear. Sometimes as a leader we lay ourselves down “as a living sacrifice” and be willing to “take a hit” so that Christ’s name may be lifted high. Strong personalities, or strong willed people who feel their way is best (instead of the given direction from the leader) will try to take the organization in a direction that may be away from the expressed will of God and toward what benefits them personally. So opposing these people may be difficult for the leader and even his family. So we begin the process by asking how committed is the leader to following God’s will; is he willing to do whatever it takes to see God’s name and will held as the top priority?

Are the desires of my heart to pursue this particular course? (Psalm 37:4)
This Psalm says that when we delight ourselves with the things of God, He will give us the desires of our heart. So our main objective as a leader is to see that God is glorified and that His name is lifted up. When we lead people to do this as well, then it should bring delight to our hearts. Our desire then becomes seeing others give God glory with their lives.

Is the problem something that you feel needs to be fixed (do you even care about it)? Or would it be best to pass off (i.e. delegate) this problem to someone who is passionate about it, or who “has a heart” for that area? If you say, “This is something that we can’t ignore. Something must be done about this,” then make sure your heart is lining up with the commandments and teachings of Scripture.

Does God provide the power to continue working on the project and make the necessary decisions to achieve it? (Isaiah 26:3)
This passage from Isaiah discusses how God gives the mind peace as the person trusts in God. So the leader must make decisions that result from prayer and contemplation but ultimately result in a step of faith where he/she trusts that God will take care of him/her and work through them in the situation. It is easy for others to second guess decisions after time has passed and the problem has passed. But what makes one a leader is that they must make a decision in the midst of the storm. Trust God once you feel you have heard from Him and pronounced a decision.

Also, what makes a spiritual leader different from a secular leader is that they rely on the Holy Spirit for things not provided to those who do not believe and place a saving trust in Christ (such as strength, insight, faith, peace, resources, etc). Does the leader have a sense of peace as they work through the process that the most current decision is the right one?

In determining what to do next in the midst of a problem it is helpful to define some terms.

Definitions
Decision-making; this is choosing between alternatives. Often times the alternatives are not good and bad, but good and good, or good and best.

Problem solving; this is the process of formulating and implementing a plan of action to eliminate a difficulty. Problem solving tends to deal with internal issues.

Conditions; these are currently uncontrollable circumstances superimposed on the situation from outside. A considerable length of time is required to change conditions noticeably. Conditions tend to deal with external issues.

Problem Solving Process

1. Determine if the situation is a problem or a condition. Is the situation coming from outside of the organization or the inside?

2. Clearly state the problem.

3. Determine what will be gained or lost in solving the problem. Don’t create a bigger problem by solving a smaller one.

4. Identify alternative methods and solutions.

5. State the cost of each alternative.

6. Choose between alternatives (as you pray, have Bible study, seek godly wisdom, etc.).

7. Delegate action steps and begin implementation.

8. Evaluate progress.

One of the biggest mistakes leaders make in dealing with problems is that when they are working through this process they don’t take into account the feelings of those in the organization as they begin to make changes. Even if these changes will improve the situation of all concerned, people typically don’t like changes; especially if they don’t play a part in the decision making process. If you are in a “boss-employee” situation then the leader could just state the decision in a memo and be done with it. But in a volunteer organization (such as a church) then people choose to follow or not, the leader has to be sensitive (but not overly controlled by) to other’s feeling and emotions.

The following is a way of asking people how they are feeling and gives an opportunity to discuss the change process as you go through it.

When __________ (occurs), I feel ______________ (state the way you feel), because ________________ (state why you feel that way.)

For example: “When you change things, I feel fearful, because I do not understand where we are going and how it will affect me and my family.”

Your goal is to get honest responses and point them to Scripture and the rationale and reasoning process you have taken to reach the decisions that have been reached.

*** Note: information for this article was taken from notes of Dr. Ken Coley in a class at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary entitled Church Administration in 1998.