Ensure everyone understands

This article is part three of a four-part series, based on the following: An effective ministry leader (1) builds Christ-centered community, (2) focuses everyone on the purpose, (3) ensures everyone understands what’s happening and why, and (4) encourages everyone to grow.

People want to understand

Why? Because they want to thrive, which tends to happen when they understand. And because they don’t want to be frustrated, which tends to happen when they don’t understand. For example, people get frustrated when they aren’t told far enough ahead about activities and also when plans change without a good explanation. They also feel frustrated when they don’t know why a given behavior—like showing up for meetings five minutes late—bothers the group.

Effective ministry leaders know that people want to understand what is happening and why. Because they know this, they make sure everyone understands.

You’re probably thinking: “Here we go again. Another ‘good thing’ I’m supposed to do with my team. I’ve already got a lot going on. The team is busy. Just how important and doable is this?”

Those are good questions. I recommend that you reflect on understanding what is going on and why, and that you share your reflections with your ministry team. To get started, use these three questions:

1) How important is it to understand what’s happening and why? I think it’s very important. When I understand, I can prepare for and carry out my responsibilities, effectively help others, and know when not to bother others because they are busy. When I see the bigger picture, I feel inspired—it’s easier for me to realize that a mundane task (like setting up a room for a meeting) is actually an opportunity to carry out the ministry purpose and live out the ministry values.

Confirming that people are on the same page is especially important in a multicultural or multilingual context. One of the frustrations of working in such contexts is that often team members don’t understand the motivation for a particular action by a team member from another culture.

2) What helps you understand? Things that help me include:

• having access to the team’s online calendar(s),
• reflecting with others on the importance of “why” (see http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action),
• having a documented purpose statement,
• having a documented set of values (like community, empowerment, and growth), and
• abiding by norms for meetings (like starting with devotions, listening without interrupting, and having everyone participate).

3) How doable is it to help others understand? Six doable things are:

• reviewing upcoming tasks at team meetings,
• reflecting on our ministry purpose and values,
• discussing how we are going to realize our ministry purpose and live out our ministry values as we complete a task (say, planning an outreach event),
• debriefing after each meeting by discussing the extent to which we abided by our meeting norms,
• having access to the job descriptions of other team members (so we know who does what), and
• answering the following question in my annual evaluation: What would help you understand even better what’s happening and why?

Bottom line? Be an effective ministry leader by ensuring everyone understands what’s happening and why.

What about you?

1. What’s one of your ministry activities?
2. What excites or concerns you about ensuring everyone understands what’s happening and why?
3. How important is it to understand?
4. What helps you understand?
5. How doable is it to help others understand?
6. What’s next?