Leadership “Thinkholes”
Mar 20
Leadership “Thinkholes” explained:
- Ministry Treadmill
The first “thinkhole” is the ministry treadmill. The treadmill is set in motion when the busyness of ministry creates a progressively irreversible hurriedness in the leader’s life. The sheer imediacy of each next event or ministry or ministry demand prevents the leader from taking the time required for discerning the culture and defining the DNA of the church. (pg. 10 of Church Unique)
- Competency Trap
The second thinkhole is the competency trap. As ministry leaders experience success over time, that very success can become a liability. Presumption that “you know how to do this thing” prohibits and eclipses the leader’s active listening and reflection observation. He loses the habit of discerning the churches DNA. (pg. 11)
- Needs-Based Slippery Slope
On the needs-based slippery slope, leaders are constantly trying to meet people’s needs and expectations within the church. Whether the needs ring of “religious consumerism” or are legitimate concerns of life and death, the slippery slope works the same. With the leaders’ cruise control set to “react,” thoughtful leadership becomes unnecessary because there is always a persistent parade of needs to be answered. The vision of the church is reduced to making people happy. (pg. 11)
