Jim Collins says that one of the signs of great leaders is that they are not just interested on getting people on their bus, but interested in helping people find their right seat on the bus.
The analogy Pastor Ray Bevan used to use was of different animals. Don’t try and make owls swim or fish fly. Let the rabbits run! In other words, let people be in the place where they can get the maximum results, make the maximum contribution, for the minimum stress and minimum effort.
- Don’t be afraid to move people around and try. If you get it wrong, try again. Getting people in the right place is a process and takes time. But it is essential for creating a winning team.
- Don’t be afraid to set high standards for serving positions, especially if they are in the spotlight. Setting high standards shows people that the role is important. In our Dagenham church, I have recently set some higher standards for leading worship, and that means that people have risen to those standards and the worship is undoubtedly much better because of it. If you set low standards, funnily enough the better people do not volunteer – they like high standards. If you let someone lead worship who is only in church once a month and doesn’t listen online or go to a small group, the people who are on fire for Jesus are the people who don’t want to lead worship because they think you do not value it. Selah.
- Many people are not personally disciplined. They have far too much to do, so volunteering at church for example is hard for them. You have to help them function in the best place for them for their own sake.
Inspiring and Challenging Dreamers 