Losing Life

Helping People Become

Friday morning I had the most helpful 2 hours of my entire week.  I met with Dan Grissom, a key leader at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisle.  Very sharp guy.  We talked about small group coaching, among other things.  He posed this question to me, "You seem to know what you want a coach to be, so what steps are you taking to help a coach become what you want them to be?" This is a great question  for all areas of leadership development. 

My husband Troy tells me that he was listening to talk radio 780am.  On some show he tuned into, they said that 75% (okay, he couldn't remember the exact percent, but it was high and over 50) of all managers fail in the first 18 months because the expectations were not clear.  They didn't know what it was they were supposed to be doing.

Here's the take away for me:

1. Be very clear what you are asking people to be.
2. Have a clear, easy to follow plan that helps them become.

This is great for small group leaders with group members, small group coaches with their leaders, small group directors with their coaches, or parents with their kids; or wherever God has given you the opportunity to lead and influence someone else.

Hmm...what I am I doing to help small group coaches become?  Honestly, I have to stop and think about that one.  Any suggestions for me?

Chasing It

I have had three jobs at Community Christian Church.  Children's Ministry, Support and Recovery Ministry and Small Groups.  With the first two, you throw open the doors and the people come to you (over simplification here...but stay with me).  But small groups, not so much.  Not sure which is harder or easier, but definitely different.  One thing I am beginning to understand, with small groups, you gotta chase it.

I am responsible for the Neighborhood small groups for our Naperville location, and I am asking myself lately, how am I going to chase it?  Here is what I am thinking:

• Pray and ask God for wisdom and direction
• Create a dream sheet - a description of where we want to be in 4 years.
• Break down the 4 years into yearly goals.
• Gather a strategic planning team
• Create a yearly strategy
• Execute

I met for the first time with my strategic planning team this week.  These committed volunteers agreed to meet once a week (6:30am Saturday morning...yikes!) to plan our first year strategy.  I can't say enough about the this team.  So gifted, so willing to use their time and gifts and resources to create a small group strategy that changes eternity for many people.

I will let you know how it goes.  Here's to CHASING IT.

How People Learn

I found this on Dave Fergusons Blog...thanks Dave. 

Bob Logan, leading church planting coach and founder of Coach Net shares this list of how people learn.   He articulates very well what I have seen repeated in the small group leader/apprentice relationship over the years.  Ya....this is what I'm talkin' about....... 

People learn best when they see someone effectively model the skill or character trait they wish to learn.

People learn best when they gain hands-on experience through on-the-job training. Jesus’ training model would accurately be summarized in the following order of words: Orient…Involve… Equip.

People learn best in a mosaic pattern, not a linear pattern. In other words, they learn best when they sense a need, not when the subject just happens to come up next in the curriculum list.

People learn best through “just-in-time” training. When you are involved in ministry, and there you sense a need—that is when you need a resource, when you need the help, and when you are most teachable!

People learn best when they have effective mentoring relationships.