7 + 2 Effective Practices in Leadership

Here's what Ptr. Sam Sade shared during our retreat in his session "Keeping in Step with the Church". Though he numbered it seven, he added two more by the end of his session. We call it in the biz, impromptu :)

Clarify the win - Vision, vision, vision! Know where you are going. Ask, What do you celebrate when you look back? As a minister, are you celebrating conversions and disciples?

Think steps not programs - Programs are activities to keep people busy. Steps are programs to get people to the place where you want them to be. Steps are easy to follow/monitor, obvious (the need is obvious) and strategic (not "just because").

Narrow the focus - Do one or two things well rather than being a jack of all trades. Remember less is more. (This is something I really need to work on.)

Teach less for more - Teach them what they really need to know, not just trivial things, but things they can apply for the betterment of their lives. I remember a teaching professor remarked back in a conference about teaching today's seminarians, he said something like this, "I am less concerned when Calvin was born (and other "important" dates of church history), and more concerned about their contributions to today's church and the Christian faith system."

Listen to outsiders - Once in a while (or more than that) take evaluation from the people outside your organization. Because the longer you stay in an organization, the more your bias for or against the organization. Andy Stanley talks about how they value feedback from new employees, because it helps them see their organization with "fresh eyes".

Replace yourself - This is similar to what I heard before from Chuck Quinley: Work yourself out of your job. Meaning, learn to train, empower and disciple others to continue and enlarge the vision's flame.

Work on it - Simply put, nothing happens without industry and hardwork.

Think outside the box - If you don't think outside the box, you're only reaching people other churches are already reaching.

Dream big dreams, take great risks - Never fear to dream big. The safety of "dream small, fail small" is unchallenging and pessimistic. Learn to take great risks (with faith and anointed ears) and cross over to living an adventure.