vision | Mike Bonem

Knowing When to Keep Going … and When to Stop

Mike Bonem — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 07:50:00 +0000

My regular place to run is a 3-mile dirt path around a college campus. It keeps me off the pavement (good for my knees) and out of traffic (good for everything else!) The only problem is that the path is topped with very small rocks, and a few of them inevitably end up in my shoes. On almost every run, I have to decide whether to keep going or stop and remove a rock.

Leaders encounter a variety of “rocks” as they pursue the vision to which God has called them and their churches or ministries – an angry church member, a discouraged staff person, a lack of support for a new initiative, an unsettled feeling in their own soul. And just like my running, leaders have to decide what to do about these rocks.

How do you decide when to stop and when to keep pressing ahead? When I’m running, the decision is easy. If a rock is small and just a nuisance, I keep going. If it is actually painful, I stop and remove it. In the latter case, ignoring the rock would cause me to alter my stride and could result in an injury.

For ministry leaders, the decision may not be as simple, but the same principles are applicable. When you encounter a “rock,” ask yourself:

How big is the rock? I shouldn’t let my run be derailed by every tiny rock, nor should your leadership be sidetracked by every small obstacle. The key is determining the size and seriousness of the obstacle. One loud complainer makes more noise than many grumblers, but the latter is more concerning.
What are your options? When running, I can either stop to remove the rock or keep going. In leadership, you have many more options. Each option has a cost: the time you and others might spend addressing a problem, what may happen if you ignore it, and time that is not available to focus on other priorities. These costs should be weighed against the benefits of each option.
Am I confident in my assessment? Determining the size and consequences of a leadership obstacle can be difficult, especially if it feels like a personal attack. In these moments, other trusted leaders can offer valuable perspectives on your assessment of the situation.
What might God be saying to me in this moment? Even though my general advice is to ignore small rocks, there is an important exception. God often speaks to us in a quiet voice or seemingly minor circumstances. (Consider Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:1-14 or Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-18.) When you encounter leadership rocks, whether large or small, pause long enough to ask, “God, is there something you want me to hear from you in this moment?”

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When the Right Next Step Is Wrong

Mike Bonem — Tue, 10 May 2022 11:33:04 +0000

I like the leadership axiom, “Take the right next step.” The simple phrase encourages action over inaction. It emphasizes intentional movement rather than paralysis by analysis. It acknowledges that we don’t need to know every step before taking the first one. But I had an experience that made me wonder if taking the right next step is always the right thing to do.

I was out of town and had a very early morning flight. I wanted to get as much sleep as possible, so I didn’t allow much margin in my schedule. When my alarm went off, I kept focusing on the next step – shower and get ready, pack my bag, catch the hotel’s airport shuttle, look up my flight status and departure gate while riding to the airport, get through security, and head to the gate with a quick stop for a coffee. As I stood in the long line of travelers waiting to get their caffeine fix, I realized I could have used the order ahead feature on my app. But I had been too focused on the immediate next step to think about this.

This may be a trivial example, but it illustrates an important leadership point. As we take a next step, we should keep our eyes on the overall goal. My goal that morning was to get on my flight with a cup of coffee in my hand. By focusing only on the step directly in front of me, I overlooked a better way to accomplish my goal.

In your context, the overall goal may be your church or ministry’s vision, or it might be the goal for a specific initiative. Are you keeping that in mind as you take your next steps? Examples of a next step being misguided might include:

A goal of launching small groups in which life-on-life discipleship occurs. But recruiting unqualified people in the haste to establish the new groups.
A goal to reach young adults in the community through a new worship service. But consulting with insiders on the design of the service because they’re more accessible.
A goal to provide a life-changing experience on a mission trip. But being so focused on the logistical details that the evening worship services are not planned thoughtfully.

I’m still a fan of taking the right next step. But we need to be clear on what we mean by “right.” It’s not necessarily the step that is quickest or easiest. Instead, it’s the answer to the question, “What step should we take today that will best move us toward our goal?” What’s your right next step today?

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Flying Beyond the Storm

Mike Bonem — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:57:54 +0000

Imagine that you’re flying across the country for a big family reunion. You’re thrilled that you’ll be able to see your parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. You’ll get to meet the newest family members – a 6-month old baby and your cousin’s new spouse – for the first time. In the middle of the long flight, you hear the pilot’s voice: “Folks, there’s a storm ahead. We’re just going to turn around and go back to our originating city to wait it out.” You’d be confused and angry. Sure, it’s not fun to fly through a storm, but planes do it all the time, and they can often adjust their route to avoid the worst weather. Changes in the flight plan are appropriate, but giving up makes no sense at all.

Pastors and ministry leaders thought the storm of covid would be mostly over by now. Early in the summer, when cases had declined significantly, they felt encouraged and hopeful as they planned for the fall. When the pandemic came roaring back, it created a new wave of uncertainty about how to proceed. There are many perspectives about the “right way” to do ministry in the current season, but that is not my purpose in writing. Instead, I want to look further into the future.

Just like the imaginary airplane flight in the first paragraph, there is a future for your church on the other side of the covid storm. So what is your job right now?

Be clear about the destination. The person boarding the plane for a family reunion has a specific city to reach. In the same way, you should be as clear as possible about God’s preferred future for the church or ministry you lead. This task doesn’t fall solely on your shoulders – it’s a job for the entire leadership team. When people can see an exciting destination, they’re more willing to work hard to get there and to endure some storms along the way.
Adjust, but don’t turn around. Of course the pilot should make adjustments to avoid flying through the middle of a storm. You should do the same. We’re all tired of changing plans, but that is our current reality. And there is an upside. Every adjustment is an opportunity to reinforce the vision. It’s a chance to ask, “In light of these obstacles, how can we best become who God wants us to be?” That is a much better response than giving up.
Instill confidence. When a plane is heading into turbulent weather, the calm and confident voice of a pilot is reassuring. In the same way, the challenges of this season create a tremendous leadership opportunity. People are looking for leaders who are honest and realistic about the difficulties ahead, and who are also confident that, with God’s help, the church will prevail and emerge even stronger. Don’t waste the chance to be that leader.

What is your leadership flight plan?

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Vision Reset

Mike Bonem — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 06:10:00 +0000

For the last 16 months, churches have had little appetite for visioning or strategic planning. This makes perfect sense. In the middle of a pandemic, the unspoken vision for many churches was survival and the time horizon for their “long range” plans was 14 days. But as we head into the fall, pastors and ministry leaders are beginning to think further ahead (even with increased covid concerns).

As you consider the future, what is the vision – your understanding of God’s preferred future – for your church or ministry? After all we’ve been through since March 2020, you may be thinking it’s time for a new vision. But you also know this can be a long, time-consuming process. So let me suggest an alternative – a vision reset.

Regardless of how carefully it has been crafted, a vision statement on its own is limited in its potency. The explanation – the meaning behind those carefully chosen words – is what brings a vision to life. So before you abandon your current vision, take a closer look to see if it can be animated with fresh meaning.

Consider this example. Many vision statements include a phrase about “loving people” or “loving others.” Our culture overuses the word “love” – we love a good hamburger, a shirt, our spouse, and God. Same verb, but surely not the same meaning. So “love” in your vision statement is an invitation to talk about the Christian understanding of sacrificial love – agape. You can also describe the “people” your church is called to love. Most churches unconsciously show more love to their members and others who are most like them. Just a quick glance at Jesus’ teaching shows a very different picture.

This example illustrates how an existing vision can be given new life by explaining key words. You may already be clear about the meaning, but is your congregation? A vision reset should be a public process. Discussions in leadership team meetings can bring key words of the vision into sharper focus. Sermons and articles can be used to communicate to the congregation.

The purpose of a vision reset is not just understanding – it is movement. The vision should lead people to participate in what God is doing in their congregation. The work of restating the vision will not magically produce high commitment, but it should clarify direction and invite engagement. As a vision is reset, the people in a church should have a much better idea of how they can “love others,” individually and collectively. As you head into the fall, how much momentum could be created by a vision reset in your church or ministry?

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Create Balcony Space

Mike — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 11:52:53 +0000

This is one of a series of blogs on FOA – frequently offered advice – based on common themes from my coaching work over the last 20 years.

One of the most important roles for people in senior leadership (first or second chairs) is to define and cast vision and develop the strategies that will support the vision. And one of the most neglected jobs for many senior leaders is casting vision and developing strategy.

I rarely meet a leader who argues with the first sentence about the importance of this role. So why is it neglected so often? Because the stream of day-to-day demands crowds out the time that is required for this kind of higher level work. That is why intentionally creating balcony space is frequently offered advice.

Ronald Heifetz coined the phrase “balcony space.” The image is of a person escaping a crowded dance floor, where it is hard to see anything beyond one’s immediate context, and moving to the balcony to obtain a better view of the entire ball. This kind of higher and broader perspective is essential for visioning and strategic work. You can’t see or think about the big picture when you’re engulfed in a sea of immediate issues that are demanding your attention.

So how can a leader create balcony space? Here are 4 simple tips that can help you move upstairs:

Put it on the calendar. Don’t wait for the day when “things will be quieter” so that you can go to the balcony. It won’t happen. Put your balcony time on the calendar. It should be at least a half-day (preferably more) and at least once a quarter. Treat it like any other very important appointment that will only be cancelled for a real emergency.
Invite someone. Ask another leader, your entire leadership team, or a trusted colleague to go to the balcony with you. You’ll be more creative and the accountability will keep you from cancelling.
Hand-off your daily duties. Other people (staff or volunteers) can handle the regular activities, even unexpected emergencies, so that you can do your vital balcony work. It’s no different than planning for how things will be covered while you’re on vacation.
Leave the balcony work with a plan. A balcony session should clarify vision and set priorities. This needs to be communicated to your church or ministry and translated into action. When it does, the positive impact will make you want to return to the balcony.
Don’t apologize. Some leaders feel guilty for taking time away to go to the balcony, as if they’re skipping out on their “real work.” This is your job, so don’t apologize for doing it.

What’s keeping your from opening your calendar out right now and scheduling a time to go to the balcony?

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Leadership Vision

Mike — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:33:09 +0000

During the pastor’s sermon at my church this past Sunday, something in the corner of my eye briefly caught my attention. Our church meets in a venue that is a concert hall 6 days a week, and it turned out that the distraction was a piece of confetti drifting down from the rafters. As far as I could tell, our pastor didn’t notice. It certainly didn’t interrupt the flow of his message.

Leadership vision is a funny thing. Leaders need to stay focused and not be distracted from the main thing. At the same time, they need to have their antenna up so that they are aware of changes in their environment that may call for adjustments in their priorities. Too much focus can turn into tunnel vision that puts the church or ministry at risk by ignoring significant changes. But devoting time and energy to every distraction will create organizational paralysis or the chaos of constant changes in direction.

So how can you stay focused and yet not miss what’s happening on the periphery?

Be clear about the main thing. It’s impossible to focus if you don’t have clarity about the vision and the priorities for reaching the vision.
Establish listening conduits. A listening conduit is anything that gives you connection and insight into your church and your mission field. This can include times when the leader is intentionally listening or other people who are invited to be eyes and ears for the leadership team.
Create appropriate filters. Good listening conduits will bring in a wealth of information, which can be overwhelming. So there also needs to be a way for the leadership team to filter out those little pieces of paper that are nothing more than a distraction while at the same time retaining information that appears to be important.
Conduct regular strategy sessions. How often do you and your team review and revise your church or ministry’s strategy? I’m not asking about the meetings where the plan is developed. Regular strategy sessions are an opportunity to decide if any of the new information calls for adjustments in your plans.

Sure, it was just a little piece of paper that was easily ignored. But it helped me clarify some thoughts about leadership vision. What do you need to do to improve yours?

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