Ministry Growth Essentials thus far:
- Healthy at the core.
- High quality, low complexity.
- Prayed up.
- Outreach (evangelism) is indispensable.
- Leadership is a privilege.
- Positive Traditions
7. This week’s Essential: Proper Slotting
Recently I spent some time with a highly talented ministry person. Unfortunately her position was not a good “fit” for her.
We agreed that she could gut it out for a couple of years before a change was needed . . .
Place people in the right slot and they’re unstoppable.
Place them in the wrong slot and they’re un-unstoppable.
Indeed. They stop themselves.
Three reasons for improper slotting
(I believe this applies to volunteers as well as professionals.)
- Fill a need. This is OK for awhile. A stop-gap measure, however.
- Lack of self-knowledge. Sometimes you get into your 30s before figuring this out. Maybe even your 50s!
- Organizational insensitivity. The ministry puts you in the wrong slot and thinks it’s OK.
Signs of being in the wrong slot:
- Tired all the time. Can’t seem to get fully rested.
- Job feels like learned behavior. Not natural.
- Ministry results are so-so or worse.
- For the professional: Demarcation between work time and personal time is clear and highly valued.
Signs of being in the right slot:
- Work/voluntering is fun, rewarding. Not just the results but the actual practice.
- Work/volunteering seems to flow out of you in a natural way. Results are generally positive.
- Sure, you get tired. But recovery time is fairly fast.
- For the professional: Demarcation between work and personal life can be blurry and isn’t that important to you (which can be problematic in its own way).
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Whole ministries can thrive or struggle, depending on the slotting of a few key people.
Good stuff, Rick. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Renee! Hope you're in the right “slot” these days! 🙂