I wrote this for the monthly email we send out to all of our Family Ministries team members. No matter who you are, what profession you are in, Fatigue – Frustration and Failure are prevalent. The question is: How are you going to lead yourself?
This is what I want you to do. First, watch this video. Just sit. Watch. Absorb it. After you watch it the first time, watch it again and think through these questions.
I have been having several strategic conversations with people on my staff about INNOVATION. I can sense a real desire to try new ideas – think outside the box – and go where no one has gone before. (Yes, I had to throw in a Star Trek reference.) But I have been running into some road blocks as we try to innovate. Here are some reasons why . . . i think.
Killer #1: You are scared of Change
I have noticed over the years that everyone says that they like change until the change impacts them. Think about that. If you are leading out the "change" (whatever that might be), you think its the best thing since 8 tracks. If the "change" is crashing into your world, you resist it with all your might. Innovation has built in change. The foundation of innovation is change. It is something new – different – not proven.
Key Thought: Don't let your fear kill a new idea that has the potential to revolutionize your sphere of leadership.
Killer #2: It's not your idea
Call this what it is. PRIDE (aka . .. ego – arrogance – selfishness). Have you ever been in a meeting where two ideas are on the table and 5 people sit in silence where two people argue why their idea is better than the other? I have been there. I have even been the one of the "TWO". Usually, it's not that bold and blunt. This usually happens in more subtle of ways. Watch for it, you will start seeing it.
Key Thought: As a leader you have to fight to look at the idea objectively and make sure you are not positioning your idea.
Killer #3: You are stuck in the past
Let me preface this thought. We should learn from the past. The past has a lot of wisdom built into it! So, don't ignore it. On the flip side, the PAST will keep you in locked up in chains refusing to let go of you. Keep yourself – your team – looking forward on "what could be". When you hear comments like, "Last year we did _________." or "When I was at my last church I ___________." Kindly stop the conversation and say, "It sounds like we all have had some great past experiences. My question is where should we head into the future?"
Key Thought: Learn from the past, but keep focused on "what could be".
Killer #4: It's messy
Embrace the mess. Innovative ideas are almost always messy!! Why? They haven't been tried – proven and perfected. The first day Disney Land opened it was a disaster. Someone counterfitted tickets so the park was over sold. It was an extremely hot day in Southern California and the park quickly ran out of water. People were fainting left and right. It was a disaster of gigantic proporitions. Skip ahead decades, Disney is one of the most innovative ideas ever to be discovered in the world.
Key Thought: Embrace the mess . . .lead strong . . .anticipate problems . . .fix the issues and you will be amazed at what you discover.
One of the books I am reading is Andy Stanley's book, The Principle of the Path. (I am not sure if you are like me, but I have 5 different books that I am reading through right now. I should just pick one and finish it.)
Here is the essence of the entire book:
The direction you are currently traveling – relationally, financially, spiritually, and the list goes on and on – will determine where you end up in each of those respective arenas. This is true regardless of your goals, your dreams, your wishes, or your wants. The principle of the path trumps all those things. Your current direction will determine your destination. And like every principle, you can leverage this one to your advantage or ignore it to your disadvantage. Just as there are paths that have led us to places we never intended to be, there are paths that lead us away from those places as well.
Here are some questions that I have been thinking through:
What additional questions should we be asking ourselves?
Andy goes on and quotes Anna Nalick,
Time is ticking . . .we never get more time . . .and the destination won't get closer if you don't start heading there now!!
Jud Wilhite kicked off a new series this weekend at Central Christian Church titled, TORN. This series is focused on the book of Job. Several weeks ago Kim and I had the opportunity to share our story. Our hope and prayer is that our story, will help others in their life journey.
Trethewey Life Story. from David Tate on Vimeo.
God gives and takes away. One couple shares about the blessings and the struggles in their journey.
I believe in the SIMPLE CHURCH mindset with all my heart . . .but sometimes simplicity can go to far.
I stumbled upon a great blog the other day titled: "twentytwowords". The title pulled me in, but the tag line captured my attention.
Shoot . . .maybe I should just stop typing since I have blown past 22 words in this blog.
Hmmmmm….
I started reading a book yesterday titled Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps. Let me be transparent for a moment. I haven't read the entire book. I also can't say that I have totally grasped what I have read. (Never claimed to be an intelligent man.) But . . .what I have read and what I have comprehended has challenged me in so many different ways!
Here are two thoughts that Shane throws out:
1. You can't change methods without changing your message – they're inseparable.
He goes on to quote Marshal McLuhan.
2. The content or message of any particular medium has about as much importance as the stenciling on the casing of an atomic bomb.
His simple (yet complex) point: The message and the method are the same. You can't separate the two.
Let that soak in for several weeks . . .and then think about how you communicate to your audience.