Putting Pieces in Place

I enjoy working puzzles. There’s something satisfying about putting that final piece in place and seeing the finished product. In truth, I don’t have to wait for the completion of the puzzle. There’s a small sense of victory each time I find a piece that fits. This probably says a lot about the strengths and weaknesses that I brought to the role of executive pastor. I loved developing a plan and seeing everything come together. I was elated when a new hire filled a key role and a ministry soared, or when an inexperienced staff member developed into a major contributor. But in reality, the pieces rarely fit as nice and neat as in a jigsaw puzzle. There was always room for improvement in those plans, or an element that wasn’t implemented as designed. Even the best staff members made mistakes and had growing edges. Sometimes we added a “piece” that didn’t fit our puzzle at all. And of course, there was never a point at which we could step back and say, “We’re finished! Every piece is in place.” So if you can relate to my puzzle-working personality, what should you do? If you like structure and order, but you’re leading in the messiness of a church or ministry, are you simply miscast? Not necessarily. As you think about the frustration of misfit pieces, keep two things in mind. First, your church or ministry needs someone with your temperament and skills. When no one pays attention to matters of structure and alignment, confusion is inevitable and resources are wasted. Yours is not the only kind of leadership that’s needed, but it is important. Second, awareness of your “puzzle perfectionism” can help you deal with the imperfections of your church or ministry. When you feel your anxiety rising, remind yourself that messy is normal. Talk with your colleagues about your tendencies. They probably already know it, and they can help you deal with the moments when the pieces don’t fit as planned. It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>