Urban Pastor LIVE!

1. KEEPING PEOPLE PAST THEIR EXPIRATION DATE.   

I’m what you call an eternal optimist.  My first instinct is to see the best in people and work to bring it out in the open.  I’ve sent people to conferences, personally mentored them, invested time and resources into their development only to be disappointed. 

Dismissing a person is never easy, sometimes it’s inevitable.  From experience, I’ve learned that the first person you fire is ALWAYS the most difficult.  Before I replace someone, I ask myself: “Does the person really need to be replaced?” 

A sharper focus can be gained by asking:

1. Is the person’s ineffectiveness, poor leadership, or example blocking the progress of the ministry?
2. How much harm is being done?
3. What if the position goes vacant for a while (one of my favorite questions)?
4. What standard am I using to measure job effectiveness?  Sometimes we measure people against impossible standards.  We must distinguish between someone who cannot do a job from someone who can but lacks the necessary skills.

The right people don’t need to be managed—they just need to be pointed in the right direction.  Jim Collins said, “If the person came to tell you that he or she is leaving to pursue an exciting new opportunity, would you feel terribly disappointed or secretly relieved?”  If you’d be relieved, it’s time for them to go.

Have you ever had to fire someone?

How was the experience?

2. PUTTING PROJECTS BEFORE PEOPLE. 

 Ecclesiastes 7:18 says, “The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.”

This is one of those areas where we need to embrace the tension between relating with people and accomplishing the mission/getting the job done.  

Ask specifically: “Is there anything I can do for you?” 

You communicate how much you value someone by simply asking the question. Sometimes it’s nice to do something for another person without them asking or surprising them.  But if you’re not a good guesser and you don’t have psychic abilities, just ask.

Often, when I get home from work, I know there are two things I can say that will encourage my wife: 

1) I’d really like to hear about your day,

2) Is there anything I can do for you?

Have you made this mistake lately?

3. TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN THE PROCESS.  

A problem is an obstacle which makes it difficult to achieve a desired goal, objective or purpose.  Furthermore, it refers to a situation, condition, or issue that is yet unresolved.  In a broad sense, a problem exists when an individual becomes aware of a significant difference between what actually is and what is desired.

Although pastoring has many positives, problems run parallel on twin tracks.  Trying to fix the problem rather than the process is like continuing to change diapers instead of potty-training your children. 

May I offer you a piece of unsolicited advice:

You can either continue to react to the problem, or you can fix the process. Ninety percent of the time it’s a systems-problem rather than a people-problem.

What’s your problem-solving method?

4. DELEGATING TASKS INSTEAD OF RESPONSIBILITY.  

In my humble opinion, the most overused and overrated buzzword in ministry today is “excellence.” As a pastor of a thriving urban church, I am committed to excellence in my life and the life of Mars Hill.

Because of my commitment to excellence, I can become obsessed about every detail.  I’ve noticed how I’ve made my expectations clear to our team and now they tend to obsess about every detail. However, it didn’t take long for the team to realize that their interpretation of excellence might not be the same as mine.

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 5. ASSUMING THINGS ARE EITHER BLACK OR WHITE. 

According to Wikipedia, ”a grey area is a term for a border in-between two or more things that is unclearly defined, a border that is hard to define or even impossible to define, or a definition where the distinction border tends to move.”

Wow, that’s a mouthful isn’t it!

I often say when I’m preaching, “let me give you the Stowers translation:”  A grey area is a subject or problem that people do not know how to deal with because there are no clear rules. 

Yea, I like that definition!!!

For those involved ministry, experience has taught us that grey areas exist!  Following rules is easier than the messiness of relationships.  Following rules is easier than discerning God’s will. The policies or guidelines we establish should actually remove barriers and allow more freedom within our organizations.

Moreover, innovative organizations don’t value the rules over relationships, they don’t value rules over people, and they don’t value rules over the mission.  As we seek to minister to God’s people, remember black and white are not the only colors in the box.

What do you do when you encounter a grey area? 

6. NOT FOLLOWING THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

The Spirit’s presence within us enables us to understand and interpret the Word.  Jesus told His disciples “when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). 

He reveals to our minds the whole counsel of God as it relates to worship, doctrine, and Christian living.  He is the ultimate guide, going before, leading the way, removing obstructions, opening the understanding, and making all things plain and clear. He leads in the way we should go in all spiritual things.  Without such a guide, we would be apt to fall into error. 

Sometimes when I’m facing a big decision, I try to acquire more information rather than seek God’s direction.  Here’s a fundamental principle to ponder: When we stop listening to God, He stops talking to us.  God stopped talking to Abraham for 13 years between the last verse of Genesis 16 and the first chapter of 17.  Sometimes, God requires us to take a step, in faith, before he reveals his plan.  Check out Joshua 3.

What happened in your life when you decided to yield to the Holy Spirit?

7. DWELLING ON THE “WORST CASE” SCENARIO. 

As one who recognizes the validity and importance of spiritual gifts, one of my dominate gifts is discernment.  

It can be a positive gift when God’s in control of my life.  However, when I try to take control, discernment can lead me towards sin.  The sin I’m referring to is called worry or anxiety.  I’ve wasted way too much time worrying about challenges or problems that never happened.  It has been said that “85% of what we worry about never happens.”  Man, with odds like these who can loose.  Personally, this is an area of vulnerability.  What’s yours?

Do you dwell on the “worst case scenario?” 

8.  WAITING UNTIL THERE IS A PROBLEM TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK. 

As a pastor, I understand the importance of encouraging others.  It empowers others to reach their fullest potential. 

Furthermore, it motivates them to want to go the extra mile.  Because I can fall victim to the tyranny of the urgent, sometimes I’m encouragement-challenged.  Moreover, since I am results oriented, my tendency is to only speak up when expectations aren’t met.  Experience has taught me that this can create a culture of fear. I need to discipline myself to encourage my staff, leaders, and members more.  As Tom Peters has said, “Reward excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes.”

Have you encouraged someone today?

9. STAYING TOO BUSY. 

I’ve too often made the mistake of assuming that since I’m busy I’m adding value.  

It’s very possible to be constantly busy and be completely ineffective.  By the way, email can be the biggest trap of all.  If I wanted to, I could spend every hour of every day processing email and getting absolutely nothing accomplished. 

It has been said, “never mistake motion for progress.”  Throughout the day we must stop and ourselves, “is what I’m doing adding value to others or helping me reach my destiny?”  If so, keep doing what you’re doing.  If not…well, you know what to do.

How do you know when you’re too busy?

Leadership Guru, John Maxwell is known for saying: “Everything rises & falls on leadership.”  Even though I’ve been in various leadership roles for about 25 years now, I’m still learning what it takes to be a good leader.  Because of that, I feel awkward trying to tell other leaders how to lead because I’m still trying to figure it out myself.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to take a different spin with this post. With the help of some friends, I’ve compiled a list of the “10 Dumbest Leadership Mistakes I’ve Made.”

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