A few years ago my daughter started playing softball. It was about that time during the elementary years when kids are warned not to share helmets, hats, brushes, etc. with other children because they could come in contact with lice. So you know what we did, we bought her a helmet. I don’t know if you have ever been to a sporting goods store for a softball helmet, but let me tell you, the basic ones are all blue and they all look the same. My husband is extremely creative and he decided it would be easy to for her to find her helmet if we put a giant “S” sticker on it. Worked for me and for our daughter!
Time for the first game! We were in the field first and away we go! First three girls up, three outs, time for us to bat. My daughter batted fourth which allowed plenty of time for all spectators to arrive before it was her turn. The coach tells her to get her helmet and of course, she can’t find it. She looks up in the stands and finds my hubby and I and says at the top of her lungs; “Mom, where’s my big S helmet? Where’s my big S helmet?” Say that a couple of times out loud…
Now you know my pain. Parents are all looking at me like I taught her to call her softball helmet that! They jumped to their own conclusions without asking any questions, they just stared at me with that disapproving glare. The nasty stares continued until they saw the real thing, a helmet with a big S sticker on it. Big learning experience for me!
If people do not understand you or where you are coming from, they jump to conclusions. This is the same thing that happens in ministry! As a leader, you must paint a picture of the vision over and over again so that your team does not connect the dots their own way and jump to a wrong conclusion. It’s easy to do! Be real, we all do this! We would rather connect our own dots instead of asking a question. It’s not something new, but since we know it happens, let’s do something about it! Communicate the vision to your team as often as possible! Write it down, share it at orientation, share it during one on one conversations, send it out in a weekly email and ask your coaches to communicate it during your gathering time before heading out to serve! We call our gathering time our VIP time, Vision, Information, and Prayer. I saw this example at Willow Creek and it works perfectly! It gives purpose to the gathering time! Every team member knows what VIP stands for and they know what they are going to get!
People follow a leader with a compelling God given vision who empowers them to help bring the vision alive! Not all people will ask questions, you need to answer those questions by connecting the dots every chance you get!! You might avoid the nasty glares, but more importantly you will glorify God as His vision comes to pass!
