Applying the Positive No – My Focus Journey Pt.1
Learn to say ‘no’ to opportunities, by stating (sometimes mentally and sometimes verbally)
what you are saying ‘yes’ too, as you articulate ‘no.’ This makes your ‘no’ a ‘positive no.’ For example, “Because of my family commitments (saying yes to Jacob, a person who will be at my funeral), I cannot start a consulting process with you for six months (saying no to a pastor, a person I may never cross paths with again after a year). If this sounds ridiculously basic to you then great- I am glad that you don’t need
it. I do. My extreme, progress-oriented temperament, rooted in a clear calling to the church, makes it is very, very hard for me to say no to a potential client. Therefore it helps me to “rehearse the yes” with one of my children in mind.
While the family vs. work illustration is relatively easy to grasp, the principle works the same on a macro or micro level, personally or organizationally.
Faithbridge for example, recently said ‘no’ to a multiple venue strategy the church had tried for 18 months. While the strategy yielded some return, the deeper yes was adding a third service to their core worship style (called Faithbridge Live). In the process of re-strategizing, many people had to be told “no,” including dozens of people who mobilized a Traditions service. Explaining the “yes” was a massive part of change management.
On a personal, micro level, have you ever felt like you had too much to do in one day? Think through your most important ‘yes’ of the day, and use the verbal expression of it as you e-mail, call, or walk down the hall to communicate a ‘no.’
Can Do vs Called To
Andrew Patton of Covenant Presbyterian Church shared an exercise he is currently conducting with his staff. As they define the Vision Frame, they are revisiting staff structure based on their strategy (missional map). In order to "leverage existing strengths" on the team, Andrew is asking the staff to reflect every three hours. At the point of pause, each person makes a list of the things they have done in the last three hours and puts them into one of two columns- "can do" or "called to do." The the lists will inform staff team meeting over the next several weeks as the discern and refine how to best work together and move toward the sweet spot of their personal and corporate calling.
Creating Killer Content
Cheryl Marting, our chief connections officer, sends me links all the time related to her expertise in connecting people and communication to vision.
When are you successful?
Over the last three weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak and learn in many different environments, including the Exponential Conference and the Q Conference.
- By the end of the process was clarity created?
- 6 months after the process was vision communicated?
- 12 month after the process was vision integrated?
- 18 months after the process were challenges eliminated?
- 36 months after the process was growth demonstrated?
Craig Groeschel: How Much Do You Believe the Gospel?
Craig challenged over 3000 church planters at Exponential by considering three levels of belief in the gospel:
1) I believe the gospel enough to benefit from it.
2) I believe the gospel enough to contribute comfortably.
3) I believe the gospel enough to give my life to it.
Then he brought the hammer. The clarity is not the identification of these three levels, but the realization that success in level 3 can lead you to cross back into level 2. Craig admitted his own struggle with this dynamic and challenged young leaders to be prepared for the temptation.
