Off To A Great Start

I was recently sitting in the office of a client where we were visiting about first one thing and then another. As he picked up some items from the side of his desk nearest to me, I noticed a sheet of paper, folded in half, simply printed with a photo of someone on the front, and a title that read A Very Short Book above the photo. My curiosity got the best of me, and I just had to ask if I could look at this very short book. It turned out to be a collection of bits of advice for young, first-time pastors. It was written by a retired Presbyterian minister from Texas named Bill O'Neal.

This collection numbered nineteen short pieces of very solid advice about how to fit in, endear oneself to the new congregation, and stay out of the danger areas that are easily stumbled into by young pastors. They were, no doubt, all lessons he had learned from his own experiences in his long career as a pastor.

As I looked at this list of thoughts, it occured to me that, with minimal changes to Pastor O'Neal's phrasing, at least thirteen of the nineteen items he spoke of could easily be applicable and timely advice for new supervisors or managers. Here is what he offered as advice (where substitute words apply, I have added them in parentheses):

- For beginning ministers (supervisors/managers): Take a good look at yourself, and if you really don't like people, do something else, like get a PhD and teach, be a stock broker, or bureaucrat.

- When you start a new pastorate (supervisory assignment), simply show up, smile, and let the people know you are happy to be there.

- Make no changes for at least the first year. Exception: Unless there is a clear indication that the people (your team) are ready for it.

- If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

- Avoid conflict with the Presbyterian Women. It can be hazardous to your health. (New supervisors - don't stir up the ladies. They have more power than you realize!)

- Listen to your members (subordinates) and respect their stories and history. Many of them have been doing church (working in their jobs) since before you were born.

- Major in preaching, teaching, and pastoral care (coaching, supporting, and showing that you really care about your team). Everything else will fall into place.

- Try not to give the impression that you think the church (this department or work area) was about to tank before you came to save it.

- Don't swagger or smirk. It gives a bad signal. Remember you are a servant.

- Be a friend to your colleagues in ministry (your peers in the workplace). It can be lonely out there.

- Don't pick a fight you can't win. You only waste your capital.

- Avoid an adversarial attitude toward the church members (your work team).

- Let her lay where Jesus flung her. (Don't dig up old issues that need to be left alone).

As Pastor O'Neal has proven, the wisdom of the ages is usually free and willingly offered to the next generation. Our task is to accept, embrace, and implement that wisdom, then pass it on to the next generation as those before us did for us. Hopefully, you will feel compelled to share this wisdom with others in your organization.

Thanks to you, Pastor O'Neal, for sharing your experiences!

Mike Purcell - Speaker, Trainer, Author
President - Compass Performance Group, LLC
http://www.high-impacttraining.com/
http://www.getsaddlesense.com/

Stealing Their Time

Recently, I took my family on a vacation to the gulf coast of Florida. We stayed at an RV park with direct access to the beach. The weather was great, and there was plenty to keep us busy. But even in this beautiful setting, and with all of the great family things to do, I found it hard to get myself out of the business mode and focus on vacation.

Many of you who read this will find that it hits very close to home for you as well. With less people to handle greater work loads, increased expectations in higher positions of leadership, and greater competition for fewer valued positions within most organizations, we are all working harder than ever to be the best managers and leaders that we can be.

While there is certainly no shame in being a very driven and dedicated person, we sometimes overlook the need to be equally dedicated to other very important aspects of our lives. Family time, when we are engaged in it, should garner as much of our attention and dedication as work time does. One of the most important tasks we face in our lives is that of raising our children. And just like the relationships we culture and care for in our work lives, we must be constantly vigilant to work on building and maintaining those critical family relationships as well.

The next time you are planning for a family vacation or outing, spend a little extra time ahead of the event laying the ground work to ensure that your focus is as much on family time as it can possibly be. Your family will give you a great performance evaluation for your efforts!

Mike Purcell - Speaker, Trainer, Author
President, Compass Performance Group, LLC
www.high-impacttraining.com
www.getsaddlesense.com