You have an idea of how things are going to go when–BAM!–something happens out of left field and it changes your trajectory. It happens more often than you’d like. It doesn’t even need to be a major event; even little changes can alter our course. But if you have a mission you need to accomplish, you need a plan that can withstand the surprises… or a plan that can adapt in ways that allow for success.
3 Habits to Keep the Mission Central
1. Talk about your mission CONSTANTLY
To do this well, condense your mission into a simple narrative statement. Help people see the mission from every angle, remembering that it can look a lot of different ways depending on which means and methods are used. Make sure you it connects with people in meaningful, fresh, exciting ways. That it is applicable to everyone and remains relevant as circumstances change. Once you have a simple message crafted infuse it into every sermon, every event. Talk about it until everyone around knows the who, what, how, and why of your mission as well as you do. Until you hear others not only repeating it but applying into their own contexts inside and outside of the church.
2. Know and live into your priorities
Goals are often changed or even dropped. Mission is not. To be on mission is to play the long game with purpose and intentionality. Identify your mission priorities and demonstrate them in every area of your life. Craft goals that will allow you to live out your priorities. Doing this will help you stay on track as circumstances around you change. Align your time with your priorities. If you get in the weeds, the mission suffers—or your family life suffers for the mission. For every task, event, meeting, project ask yourself, “How does this move the mission forward?”
3. Create a rhythm of reflection and course correction
Just because a plan works now doesn’t mean it will work in the near future. Things change, and good leaders are prepared for those changes. Set aside regular check-ins on the calendar to reassess effectiveness. Leaders who move the mission forward reevaluate regularly. The longer you wait to reflect the further you can drift from your goal.
One great way to practice regular, daily reflection is to take a page out of St. Ignatius’ book and practice Examen: a prayer reflecting on the events of the day and trying to hear God’s voice in it. Praying the Examine daily yields both personal and missional benefits, along with increasing awareness of both the voice of God and the world around us. The Examen is a brief, daily exercise and usually includes these five elements:
- Practice an awareness of the presence of God.
- Review the day with gratitude.
- Pay attention to the emotions you experienced throughout the day.
- Choose one feature of the day and focus prayer on it.
- Look forward to tomorrow with hope.
- What is working well?
- What is not working?
- What am I learning?
- What needs to change?
- What are the next steps moving forward?
Want help keeping the mission central?
Get a coach
People with an excellent coach see the dreams become reality. That’s because coaching offers accountability to help you reflect well and stay on track and guidance to help you navigate the inevitable obstacles. Dr. Bob Logan has a couple of spots available in his coaching calendar. Contact us today and set up a free 30-minute conversation with Dr. Bob to discuss moving your vision forward.
Read The Leadership Difference
Whatever state your church is in is a direct reflection of its leadership. The stakes are high. Maintaining a pattern of personal growth is essential. The Leadership Difference is filled with ways to sharpen and focus your leadership effectiveness so you can stay on track. This book is currently available to read for FREE through Kindle Unlimited! Grab it quick!
Multiply leadership that is committed to your mission
Hiring leaders seems like a quick-start solution but it often comes with tricky results. That’s because ready made leaders already have their own vision. Developing leaders that share your vision may seem like the longer, harder road but it is one that will gain momentum and get the results you are really looking for. The Leadership Multiplication Pathway provides you with a clear course for developing the leaders you need. It helps you focus on the bigger picture of ministry multiplication and mission accomplishment.