Often when we start a new project, when we begin to develop a new program, if we are lacking a certain ingredient, if we do not have one specific emotion, the project withers and dies. But when we possess it we will see the project through. This is Mark Jones the host of Coaching Christian Leaders and today I will share with you that one essential ingredient you must have to move your leadership development program forward. When we last met, you were taking your first steps in leadership development. You determined the leadership position to develop and then you created a one-page job description for that position. If you have not done that then take a few minutes to do so. What is that position you wish to develop? I am working on developing elders. Maybe you need to create youth leaders or build up your children’s staff. Maybe it’s a deacon or women’s ministry leader. Whatever, you need to identify it and then create a simple job description. In the last episode, I encouraged you to ask yourself this question – Why does my church need this leader now? And I wanted you to link your answer to your church’s mission statement. Here’s is what I mean by that. Our church’s mission statement is To Share Christ and Build Disciples. So when I ask myself Why does my church need elders now? – the answer must satisfy the mission statement. I need elders now to build more disciples. If your need does not satisfy your mission statement, then pick a different leader to develop. If you want some additional help with these steps just grab my worksheet titled First Steps. You can find it at CoachingChristianLeaders.com on the Worksheets tab. The First Steps Worksheet covers this episode and the previous two episodes. You can use it by yourself or print multiple copies and use it with your team. Go to CoachingChristianLeaders.com, open up the Worksheets tab, and grab your copy. Five Coaching Questions Today we are going to cultivate something essential. Very early in the creation of this leadership development program, we need this essential ingredient or the process will fail. What is it? It is a sense of Urgency. Why urgency? Without urgency, there will be no lasting motivation to take this on. There will be no passion in the process. And when there is no sense of urgency there is no forward momentum. How do create urgency? You will create urgency by answering the following coaching questions. So grab a piece of paper and something to write with or grab the First Steps Worksheet and let’s create some urgency. In order to create a sense of urgency, I am going to ask you five coaching questions. Take the time to honestly and fully answer each question. I wish I was sitting across from you. When I personally coach pastors, it is questions like the following five that I ask. And pastors grow dramatically as they think and answer each question. When I coach a pastor we explore each response and dive deep into the pastor’s situation. Since I am working with you via a podcast I want to encourage you to answer each question fully and honestly. Bounce these questions and your answers off of a close friend or mentor. Better yet, discuss them with a key leader in your church. Here’s question number one. Without this leader what is the current situation at your church? Take a minute and think this through. Then write down a short paragraph that explains the current situation without this leader. You are trying to assess the impact not having this leader makes on your church. I told you that I am working on developing some new elders. But for this question, I’ll use a different need as an example. I need a Children’s Ministry Director, someone to pull together our different children’s ministry teams and give them focus, training, and support. I have a Pioneer Club Director. I have someone overseeing Children’s Church. I do not have anyone overseeing Children’s Sunday school and I do not have a Children’s Ministry Director. Without this position filled and developed the different children’s ministries never coordinate with one another. The staff that teach the kids during Sunday School, mid-week Pioneer Clubs, and Children’s Church never go to any training. And we are really dropping the ball in how we minister to kids. So what about you? Without this leader what is the current situation at your church? What could be the situation at your church when this leadership position is filled? Wow, what a question! Let your imagination run wild. Envision what could be if you had this position filled and functioning at its fullest potential. Using my example of a Children’s Ministry Director, I see kids coming to Christ. I see staff connecting, coordinating, and serving at a high level. I see families growing in their faith. I see a focused, trained, and supported children’s staff. What could be the situation at your church when this leadership position is filled and the leader fully developed? ...
