Under Construction

It seems like there is always a major construction project on at least one of Houston’s freeways. The result, of course, is even worse traffic than normal. I often hear people say, “I will be so glad when that project is finished.” I can’t blame them, but I’m also thankful for the construction, even with the dust and traffic and other headaches. Why? Because the alternative is even worse. A lack of construction would mean that we’re neglecting infrastructure needs or experiencing a stagnant economy. Our leadership should be informed by this analogy. Organizational leadership always involves some amount of “construction.” Like slowly deteriorating infrastructure, programs and ministries will gradually lose their effectiveness unless a leader invests the time and effort to reinvigorate them. A dynamic organization will always be in need of construction – new programs and systems and structures and leaders – to facilitate its growth. Of course, your organizational construction should be guided by a clear vision, just as highway planners make their decisions based on future transportation needs. People in the organization often resist these changes. At a minimum, they will ask, “When is this going to end?” The unpopular, but most appropriate, answer is “Never.” A specific initiative will end, but that is simply an opportunity to catch a breath before launching the next one. After you overhaul the small group ministry, it may be time to revamp the way that people are invited into the life of the church or to start a new worship service. Just as with the freeways, the alternative to this kind of ongoing change isn’t pretty. You may be able to create a sort of temporary peace by maintaining the status quo, but that will only lead to a need for a different and bigger kind of construction project. So pick up a hard hat. What construction project do you need to start? It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>