If you’re putting together a training system, a coaching structure, a discipleship approach, a leadership development plan—almost anything—there are five core elements you’ll need to put into place to make a truly great system:
- Keep it focused. Have a clear understanding of what you’re aiming for and keep that understanding always in the forefront.
- Keep it simple. Don’t make it too complicated. Skip the bells and whistles and boil it down the essentials.
- Keep it flexible: If you have clarity on your goal, you can be flexible enough with the method to cooperate with what you see God doing. (see #1)
- Keep it relational: Instead of a lecture hall environment, go with relational environments where people can walk alongside one another, being supported and be empowered.
- Keep it reproducible: Make sure that whatever you’re doing is something that those you are developing can turn around and do with others. (see #2)
Take a look at the systems you currently have in place. Evaluate them in light of these five elements. What do you have? What’s missing? What needs to change?