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If you're like me, you like leaders with a bias for action.
If you think about it, there are two characteristics of leadership.
- People who make decisions and take action immediately.
- People who discuss, debate, and think, but ultimately do nothing.
So, how can we create a viable culture? Do you have a culture where your team takes action by default rather than sticking to the status quo?
Start with this phrase (and question)
When I wrote a value statement at Conexus Church, where I served as senior pastor, I wanted to create a value statement that contained the spirit of church planting, which is basically a startup culture.
As anyone who has ever started anything knows, startups are about achieving the impossible.
In 2007, we started as a multi-site, fully mobile church with a relatively small staff and a tight budget. Plus, we were doing video training in 2007 before the technology was fully ready.
Inevitably, things will go wrong during Sunday setup. Patch cords were missing, cameras weren't working, and no volunteers showed up. Some Sundays it seemed like the whole setup wasn't going to happen.
As we each week attempted to do something we all knew was nearly impossible, a phrase entered our vocabulary.
In the face of a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, someone shouted:Just make it happen!” And against all odds, it will happen. The church once again came to life.
We lived to see another day.
As the organization matured, systems replaced the chaos that started each week. We've brought on more volunteers, added staff, and purchased better equipment. We've needed a lot less to say 'make it happen' because a good system makes it possible.
But I didn't want to lose the spirit I had in the early years of church planting—a culture that valued regularly attempting the impossible.
So, as we studied cultural values, we decided that “Make it Happen” would be one of our values.
for us, Make It Happen: Am I willing to do what it takes, no matter what? It captures the essence of our Make it Happen culture.
The truth about church planting and startups is that the pace at which they are launched is not sustainable. You can run that scramble for a few months, a year or two at best, but it becomes unsustainable for much longer.
If a church or organization is to have a long, sustainable life, it needs systems, structure, and predictability. On the other hand, you don't want to lose the spark of your startup amid bureaucracy and processes.
Therefore, it is essential to encode a feasible mindset in an organization. Otherwise, you will feel lethargic and bloated.
Five things to help you get started
If you're in startup mode, you need stability to execute what you started over the long term.
But most churches don't have that problem. They've been around for so long that they've become slow, steadfast, and lethargic.
Instead of a culture of making things happen, we can have a culture of discussing but never doing anything. Or maybe you have a culture that hasn't had any new ideas in years.
Instead of a culture of making things happen, too many churches have a culture of discussion and doing nothing. Share to
Nonetheless, to get out of these difficulties, here are five things that can help you break through the intransigence and start down the path to a viable culture.
1. Make a decision
Too many leaders engage in endless conversations but fail to make decisions.
As a leader, you must constantly ask yourself the following questions during meetings: What will change when we leave this room? If you can't answer that question, you've wasted everyone's time.
As a leader, you must constantly ask yourself the following questions during meetings: What will change when we leave this room? If you can't answer that question, you've wasted everyone's time. Share to
Without decisions there can be no movement, no progress, no change.
Remember that a less-than-perfect decision today is often better than a perfect decision made too late. Determination breeds drive, and drive is a powerful force in any organization.
2. Stop trying to please people
Being a people pleaser is a surefire way to make no one happy. Especially you as a leader. Many leaders fall into this trap, often because they want to be loved or are afraid of conflict.
This leads to a choice. You can like it, you can lead it, but you can't do both.
Leaders who constantly seek approval are often paralyzed by indecision. Instead, focus on what is best for your organization and trust that the right people will understand and support your decisions.
3. Realize that people will be offended
Any decision that requires leadership will offend someone. The hard part is deciding who to offend.
Jesus himself was no stranger to this reality. He angered the Pharisees by welcoming outsiders. You shouldn't go out of your way to make people feel bad, but true leadership is controversial.
Sometimes the decision to include outsiders can end up offending insiders, no matter how hard you try.
Sometimes the decision to include outsiders can end up offending insiders, no matter how hard you try. Share to
Remember that trying to make everyone happy will not make anyone happy, including yourself.
4. Follow-up
Too many good decisions fail due to lack of execution and follow-through.
Decision making is just the beginning. The real work is in the execution. Creating clear accountability channels often makes the difference between life and death of a dream. Without follow-up, even the best decisions are lost.
So, build an accountability system within your team. Assign specific tasks to individuals and set due dates. Check progress regularly and provide support where necessary. Follow-up ensures that decisions lead to actions and those actions lead to results. It also shows your team that you're serious about making things happen, which may inspire them to adopt the same mindset.
5. Don't be afraid
Fear can prevent you from realizing your dreams. But what do we have to fear when we are entrusted with a mission that even the gates of hell cannot overcome? Uncertainty and the possibility of failure are often stepping stones to success.
Creating a viable culture takes courage. The courage to make difficult decisions, stand by them, and follow through even when the path is unclear.
You have to overcome your fears to make it happen. So go for it
Creating a viable culture starts as a leader. Your actions, decisions, and mindset set the tone for the entire organization.
next stage
You can create a culture of action and progress by being decisive, focusing on what's best for the mission, accepting that not everyone can be happy, ensuring follow-through, and embracing the courage to fear.
Remember, leadership isn't about avoiding mistakes; it's about learning from them and continually moving forward.
So, step up, make it happen, and watch your organization thrive. Soon, you will be willing to do what it takes, no matter what.