The Focus Dilemma- Do you Lead a River or a Puddle?
Last night I navigated the roll-out of a church's Kingdom Concept with 70 of their core leaders. Some people were blown away by the focus and immediately recognized the opportunity to rally the entire church. Other experienced a mental vapor lock. With bodies sitting calmly, their minds were violently stiff-arming the conversation.
Why? Because focus requires limits.
- "You mean were are not going to…"
- "But what about…"
- "Aren't we leaving out…"
The focus dilemma is the crisis that is created when we feel it's restrictions without seeing it's freedom and benefits. Ironically, it is the forced limitation that creates the power, the meaning, the opportunity. A river without banks is just a large puddle.
What's the good news of focus? Through the limitation we experience expansion. What banks have you chosen for your organization? What channels momentum in your culture?
Don't be surprised that the majority will never see the power of limitation. That seeing-ability is reserved for a unique subset of people. If you are one of those people, rejoice. For you have a special gift to lead and make a significant contribution in the world. What are you leading today- a river or a puddle?
Places to Push the Envelope on Vision
My speaking ministry has ramped up a bit with more people engaging Church Unique. Here are a few places I will be in the next 6 weeks. I will begin updating the blog more with events like these. The reason I speak is to push the envelope on vision. It's all about what God wants to do uniquely through you and your ministry.
- September 29: A Day of Clarity, Portland, OR
- October 12-13: Sticky Church Conference, San Diego, CA
- October 20-21: CB Plus ‘24’ Conference, Anderson, IN
- October 27: Cornerstone Conference, with WFX Charlotte, NC
- November 10: Society for Church Consulting, New Orleans, LA
Profound Partial Truths: Your Vision is Outdated Part 4
Two quotes related to vision have trafficked through the social media space in the last six months. These quotes support the position that vision is outdated.
The first quote came from Sam Chand and picked up speed at Leadership Network’s i3 conference in Dallas. The quote is “Toxic Culture Trumps Vision” Listen to Sam’s fantastic podcast related to the subject here.
The second quote is from Dave Gibbons who spoke at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit. His quote is “We need more relationaries not visionaries.”
Both of these quotes are profound partial truths. In their context, these statements bring helpful insight. For example, Gibbons is really against the role of a visionary who is disconnected and out of touch with their followers. He is not against being visionary.
But as stand alone statements they reveal a subtle but powerful dynamic in church leadership circles today: Our concept of vision is so weak and outdated we tend undermine and downplay it because all we have left is a “strawman.” Instead of living with a weak and outdated vision, I suggest that we need to define vision correctly.
Fixing Quote #1
The problem with Sam’s quote is that we are left asking, “How do you fix a toxic culture?” Ironically, the answer has to start with vision! Therefore it is more accurate to say real vision shapes culture. And what Sam should have said is “Toxic culture trumps the results of our poorly conceptualized visioning processes” (Like borrowing a mission statement from North Point, or doing an old-school strategic planning process.)
Fixing Quote #2
Again, Dave’s statement that we need relationaries not visionaries is itself a statement of vision (ironically). Imagine for a moment where the church would be if we had all relationaries and no visionaries. Now, I do get Dave’s point as stated earlier. But why not statement the real truth: We need visionaries who are strong relationaries. The first person who comes to mind now is Jesus not Mister Rogers- imagine that!
Change has Changed: Your Vision is Outdated Part 3
A pastor left a message on my 800 line yesterday and on my cell phone today (he was referred from a friend who used Auxano). Interestingly, he used a long string of different terms to describe what he is looking for in his two different voice messages:
- developing a long range plan
- a strategic planning process
- visioning
- strategizing
- helping us think through the future
- defining our DNA
Its noteworthy that there are many ways of trying to articulate the very process at arriving at vision today. The way we think about vision is
being challenged, pushed and stretched to adapt to new sets of problems and
opportunities.
- Conferences (event-based inspiration) have become the primary tool for thinking about the future
- Church growth methodology that peaked in the 70's and 80's was based on cultural assumptions that have changed
- Traditional strategic planning (and the resulting notebook from the process) is more of a hindrance than a help in energizing a church's future.
What's the bottom line? We need new words, new tools, and new processes today to help us with vision. (This need is the holy discontent behind the book Church Unique.) Until we regain an adequate model for visioning in this context of rapid change, the effectiveness of every other decision in the church will decrease.
Guiding Principles and Yogi Church
I have been transitioning from coffee to tea. Today the family was comparing two brands of green tea- Tazo and Yogi. The clear winner for us is Yogi. I always enjoy reading the story and vision behind a product I like. In this case I found the Yogi Principles an interesting example of a defining core.
- Tasting great is essential but not enough
- We think before we blend
- Health is found in nature
- Creative combinations can optimize what nature has to offer
- Whenever possible we work with wholes not parts
Yogi Church
- Great worship is essential but not enough
- We think before we program
- Health is found in community
- Creativity and innovation can optimize what church has to offer
- Whenever possible we lead the whole church body not just parts