Your church or organization is like a train.
There are things you’re doing that are causing the train to move (the coal).
There are things outside of your control that are either speeding up the train or slowing it down (hills and air resistance).
And there are things within your control that are slowing the train down (baggage and needless weight).
The next time you gather your team together:
Try identifying what’s core to your team and what needs to happen to keep things running, like casting vision, celebrating, or having the right metrics.
Then, identify the things outside of your control that are moving your team forward or slowing you guys down, like neighborhood growth/decline, market growth/decline, change in leisure activities, or time of year.
And then identify what’s within your control that could be slowing your team down, like toxic team members, a weak culture, or a lack of planning.
And for you personally, reflect on whether or not you want to be on the train that you’re on.
Is it time for a career change? Are you feeling a push away from your current team? Or a pull toward another one?
If you’re feeling like it’s time for a move, check your motives:
- Are you feeling the way you’re feeling just because others are leaving?
- Because of a conflict with your boss or someone on your team?
- Because you’re bored or not being challenged?
You’re either helping the train move forward or slowing it down. So don’t be dead weight. Find your place and give it your all—either on the train or off of it.