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TechnoratiMany of the practices Drucker identifies as leading to success at work translate well to a church setting. Effective managers, he says:
· know where their time goes
· focus on desired outcomes
· build on strengths of others (and themselves)
· concentrate their efforts where they’ll have the most benefit
· are careful, decisive decision makers
We could say the same about effective pastors. Practicing these habits can enhance our effectiveness in the pulpit, in staff meetings, even in interactions with our church boards.
Leading with limited resources
Although I do practice most of these habits on a regular basis, less than three years into my work at the then-fledgling Saddleback, I recognized the need for administrative leadership of an individual who would roll up his sleeves and get his nails dirty working to carry out the vision. So, we recruited Glen Kreun to come in as executive pastor. Glen’s gifts are in the area of detail management, administration, and keeping the team on track every day.
Your church may have the resources to pay someone like Glen to take the administrative reins. If you do have the resources and that gift is lacking on your leadership team, then by all means recruit someone who can help.
But if resources aren’t there to create a paid position, it can be just as effective to recruit and equip trustworthy, gifted volunteers to fill the gaps.
Around Saddleback, we use the acronym: S.H.A.P.E. By that we mean that as we recruit and place individuals on the team—whether for paid or volunteer positions – we find out several things about them:
· Spiritual gifts
· Heart
· Abilities
· Personality
· Experiences
Once we know their S.H.A.P.E., we can help them find the best places for them to use all of those areas in ministry. And once we know their S.H.A.P.E., we can delegate tasks to them with confidence. We can take our hands off the projects and allow workers freedom to accomplish a goal themselves.
Time to lead
One of the best reasons to delegate comes straight out of any book you might read on time management. We can’t try to be and do everything. We must accept our limitations. The quickest way to burn out is to try to be Superman.
Take that idea one step further. Our highest calling as pastors is our responsibility before God for the spiritual health and growth of our people.
If we’re all wrapped up in who’s printing the bulletins and who’s staffing the nursery, we may be getting sidetracked from our primary calling. We need to keep ministry and administration in balance. Delegating helps us do just that.
I’ve found a few keys that help me delegate effectively:
· Break down major goals into smaller tasks. When we started Saddleback, I made everybody a committee of one. We each had assignments. One person managed the printing of the bulletins while another set up the nursery. Everybody had a specific task.
· Develop clear job descriptions. Your workers deserve to know what is expected.
· Match the right person with the right task. The wrong person in the wrong task causes all kinds of motivational problems. Continue »
