Are you ready to turn vision into meaningful results? My experience combines world-class consulting and executive leadership in ministry and business to offer unique solutions for each client.
Types of Consulting
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Creating a clear, shared, and compelling vision that provides direction for the future.
The Problem: Without a clear vision, important organizational decisions will be unfocused and uncoordinated, or will default to the status quo.
The Goal: Create a clear, shared, and compelling vision that provides direction for the future.
Each visioning project is tailored to fit your specific needs and context. Typical steps in the process are:
Select a “vision community” for the discernment process
Review congregational history, existing vision or mission statements, and organizational strengths and weaknesses
Obtain input from the congregation (or other constituents)
Consider key concepts that may be included in the vision
Develop the vision statement, including explanation of key words and phrases
Create a communication plan and other next steps
Seek God’s leadership throughout the process
Example: As they neared the completion of a major building campaign, one church decided to update its vision. A small team of leaders examined the church’s history, identity, reputation in the community, and input from members to create the new vision statement. After the roll-out, the new vision provided a framework to guide programming and resourcing decisions and created a new sense of excitement in the congregation.
Contact me to schedule a time to discuss how a consulting project might benefit for your church or ministry.
Identifying the strategic priorities and plans to accomplish the vision.
The Problem
Visioning efforts often create an inspirational statement without answering, “How will we get there?”
The Goal
Identify the strategic priorities and plans to accomplish the vision.
The Process
Each “vision-to-action” project is a collaborative effort with a leadership team and is tailored to fit your specific needs and context. Typical steps in the process are:
- Review the current vision, and clarify or revise if appropriate
- Obtain relevant input (e.g., surveys, focus groups, statistical data)
- Define key implications of the vision
- Identify a small number of strategic priorities that will best advance the vision
- Develop specific action steps for each strategic priority
- Design a plan for communication and implementation
Example
A mid-size church had developed a vision statement several years earlier, but this was little more than a slogan on their Sunday bulletin. In the vision-to-action project, the leadership team sharpened this vision with a clear focus on discipleship. They then identified strategic priorities related to community-building, biblical teaching, and hospitality, and they created specific steps for each. As a result, the church has experienced revitalization after a long period of stagnation.
Contact me to schedule a time to discuss how a consulting project might benefit for your church or ministry.
Recommending changes in structure and systems to align with the vision and improve outcomes.
The Problem
Organizational elements – including the organization chart, decision-making processes, and supporting systems – are often not aligned with the vision.
The Goal
Recommend changes in the structure and systems to align with the vision and improve outcomes.
The Process
Organizational changes can be particularly sensitive and often need an unbiased outside perspective. Each organizational design project is tailored to fit your specific needs and is done in close collaboration with the leadership team. Typical steps in the process are:
- Understand current organizational challenges and obstacles
- Review the vision, current plans, and other relevant information
- Conduct interviews with key individuals or groups
- Develop preliminary recommendations for review with senior leaders
- Finalize and present recommendations in a written report
Example
A large mainline church had been living into its new vision for two years, but they had not made any organizational changes to support the vision. Decision-making was slow and confusing, and in many cases, reporting relationships were unclear. After obtaining significant input from the staff, the organizational design project recommended a new organization chart, the creation of a new senior leadership team, and several other steps to improve effectiveness. The result was improved decision-making, communication, and alignment with the vision.
Contact me to schedule a time to discuss how a consulting project might benefit for your church or ministry.
Developing an in-depth and holistic picture of strengths and areas for improvement.
The Problem
An inaccurate or incomplete understanding of current reality will result in poor leadership decisions.
The Goal
Develop an in-depth and holistic picture of strengths and areas for improvement that will support decisions about the future.
The Process
Each assessment project is customized to fit your specific needs. Projects include the collection and review of data from a number of sources, and conclude with a presentation and/or written report outlining key findings and recommendations. In some cases, a team from the church/ministry will assist in data collection. The assessment may include:
Statistical data from the church or ministry
External information, such as area demographics
Deeper analysis of selected data
Interviews with key leaders
Focus groups
Online survey for broader input
Example
A denomination’s regional body had adopted a strategic plan several years earlier and wanted to evaluate their progress. The project involved extensive collection and analysis of data from all of the categories listed above. The findings produced a number of important insights for the leadership team, and the recommendations led them to make several critical shifts to better accomplish their goals.
Contact me to schedule a time to discuss how a consulting project might benefit for your church or ministry.
Navigating the complex dynamics of transition so that the baton can be passed smoothly.
The Problem
Organizational elements – including the organization chart, decision-making processes, and supporting systems – are often not aligned with the vision.
The Goal
Recommend changes in the structure and systems to align with the vision and improve outcomes.
The Process
Organizational changes can be particularly sensitive and often need an unbiased outside perspective. Each organizational design project is tailored to fit your specific needs and is done in close collaboration with the leadership team. Typical steps in the process are:
- Understand current organizational challenges and obstacles
- Review the vision, current plans, and other relevant information
- Conduct interviews with key individuals or groups
- Develop preliminary recommendations for review with senior leaders
- Finalize and present recommendations in a written report
Example
A large mainline church had been living into its new vision for two years, but they had not made any organizational changes to support the vision. Decision-making was slow and confusing, and in many cases, reporting relationships were unclear. After obtaining significant input from the staff, the organizational design project recommended a new organization chart, the creation of a new senior leadership team, and several other steps to improve effectiveness. The result was improved decision-making, communication, and alignment with the vision.
Contact me to schedule a time to discuss how a consulting project might benefit for your church or ministry.
The Problem
Organizational elements – including the organization chart, decision-making processes, and supporting systems – are often not aligned with the vision.
The Goal
Recommend changes in the structure and systems to align with the vision and improve outcomes.
The Process
Organizational changes can be particularly sensitive and often need an unbiased outside perspective. Each organizational design project is tailored to fit your specific needs and is done in close collaboration with the leadership team. Typical steps in the process are:
- Understand current organizational challenges and obstacles
- Review the vision, current plans, and other relevant information
- Conduct interviews with key individuals or groups
- Develop preliminary recommendations for review with senior leaders
- Finalize and present recommendations in a written report
Example
A large mainline church had been living into its new vision for two years, but they had not made any organizational changes to support the vision. Decision-making was slow and confusing, and in many cases, reporting relationships were unclear. After obtaining significant input from the staff, the organizational design project recommended a new organization chart, the creation of a new senior leadership team, and several other steps to improve effectiveness. The result was improved decision-making, communication, and alignment with the vision.
Contact me to schedule a time to discuss how a consulting project might benefit for your church or ministry.
Every consultation is based on my 20+ years of experience, is anchored in my Seven Core Commitments, and is tailored to fit your unique needs. If your church or ministry is ready to take the next step, Contact Me to schedule an introductory call.