MikeMy previous blog explored how saying “yes” to small, innocent requests can distract a church or ministry from its mission. But the opposite is also a problem. Some people were born with a “no” reflex that has been honed to world-class status. If that’s you, you may discourage people from using their gifts and passions and may miss out on new ideas that can propel your ministry forward. Every organization needs fresh thinking to keep from becoming stale. It’s important to say yes – but it needs to be the right yes. So how do you know what the right yes is? A few simple questions can guide those decisions:
- Does the proposal align with your mission and with your current priorities? The latter qualification – current priorities – is important. Some ideas might generally fit the mission but they would still be a distraction from your focus in this season. If the request doesn’t meet this initial criteria, the “no” should be quick and easy.
- Is it focused on others? Many proposals are essentially self-serving. The requester wants something for himself or herself. While there still may be merit in these cases, they should be viewed with skepticism.
- Is the requester willing to provide leadership? The most frustrating requests start with “you need to …” If the requester isn’t willing to actively support his/her own proposal (including recruiting others), leave it on the drawing board.
- Have you counted the cost? Despite the claims of their proponents, very few requests “cost nothing.” Even if there are no financial impacts, the cost of space, staff time, communication, and unpursued opportunities are important considerations.
- What is the evaluation process? One of the chronic problems in ministries is the difficulty of killing a program. It’s much easier to say yes if you have a way to evaluate the effectiveness of the new idea and an agreement that it will be changed or stopped if it’s not meeting expectations. It’s even better if this is in writing.
