 |
|
|
| |
Making a Manageable Agenda for Others
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
I once had a person's work habits described as, "He makes a rather heavy agenda for other people". Leadership involves working in a team relationship in ways in which we gain the trust and respect of the team. Although forcefully creating an agenda for other people may appear to work in the short term, in the long term it fragments trust, teamwork, and productivity. Following are ways in which we can create too heavy an agenda for those we are leading:
1. We press our agenda before we are sure that others have "bought in".
2. We work on false motivations such as shame and coercion, rather than the sound motives of love and achievement.
3. We fail to recognize that although the Church is our principal focus, it may be a second, third, or sixth level of focus for our volunteers.
4. We plan and launch big ideas at the last minute, using and overtaxing the goodwill of our co-workers.
5. We "overprogram" so that the projects we attempt regularly exceed the willing resources of our congregations.
6. We become so fixated on non-essentials that we draw life away from the essential task of the parish.
Jesus was a great leader because He had love, compassion, and respect for those He led. "My burden is light ." "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees." He called his followers to excellence, achievement, and self-sacrifice, but only after they were properly nourished, loved, rooted, and connected.
If we find ourselves working harder with fewer results, it may be worthwhile to review the kind of agenda we are setting for others, and how they are feeling about it!
Item XXVIII
©2000 Ronald C. Ferris
... back to "Resources for effective parish leadership" main page
|
|
|
 |
