How to Think Big Picture

Constantly my husband tells me, “People don’t think like you.” Sometimes this is not a compliment…like when I have once again totally missed the point of a joke (being the “humor-challenged person” that I am). But most of the time when he says not everyone thinks like I do, it is his way of reminding me that my ability to think holistically is a bit of a skill.

Big picture thinking is the ability to consider how your thoughts, actions and attitudes will impact your life or organization over the long haul. How will the decisions you make today impact others in one year, five years or ten years? If leaders fail to ask these all-important questions, their leadership will likely become shortsighted and somewhat ineffective. As leaders, we must learn to think of both the hear-and-now and the desired future.

So how do you learn to think about the big picture? While I have not mastered this ability, here are a few techniques I naturally use to keep the big picture in mind:

1. Think ahead
Simply taking a few minutes to consider a topic before I am called upon to form a leadership opinion about it allows me the time and space to consider the big picture. When I do this well, I come prepared to offer insight beyond my immediate circumstances. When I fail to think ahead, I am left to offer my gut reaction.

2. Think in terms of perspective
As I think through an issue, I try it out in my mind from multiple angles. If I need to hire an important position, I think through what I need from the position, what type of leader the team needs, what type of person will best fit the organizational culture and what type of person will complement the skills of other team members. Then I think through candidates from these angles (and many others). Perspective allows me to consider obvious and not-so-obvious implications of my decisions. And too, I have found that sometimes the best perspective is found in team discussion or in outside counsel!

3. Think in terms of outcomes
When I think about leadership issues (or life issues), I have learned to think in terms of the most desirable outcome. Sometimes leaders do not think in terms of the big picture, simply because they have not defined what a “win” would look like. When I know what I am trying to accomplish, holistic thought is more tangible and immediate. Clear desired outcomes prevent me from getting bogged down in philosophy and move me to action.

4. Think in terms of consequences
I would venture to say every leader has been in a situation where they have failed to consider the consequences of their decisions. When I have failed to consider the possible negative or positive consequences of an action, I have often found myself in trouble. While none of us can think of everything, we can be attentive to how our actions will impact others. In the best of worlds, my big picture thinking promotes healthy thoughts, actions and attitudes.

What big picture thinking skill do you need to practice today?

Three Things I've Learned About Focus

Focus is a challenging skill. Have you ever realized what you focus on grows? Focus on food, and your appetite will grow. Focus on making healthy choices and suddenly you realize that lunch entrée was your total daily allotment of 1,500 calories! What you focus on grows. And when you choose to set your sights on something, the outcome is often secured before you have even begun.

Unless…you loose focus.

I suppose you could say that’s what happened to me two years ago. It was April 19, 2010 and a few minutes before 6:00 P.M. Being the master chef that I am, I was about to throw a frozen pizza in the oven for dinner when my ten-year-old son flung open the garage door and crumpled into the couch. Sobbing and heaving, he finally managed to get out a few words. A rock had been thrown into the side of his head. That’s when he started throwing up.

Then it was 911. An ambulance to the nearest hospital. Emergency CT scans. And a depressed skull fracture. A doctor quickly telling me Scott needed to be transferred to a higher level of care and that a helicopter was on its way. The helicopter EMT pausing and turning to me, blades whirring a few paces down the walkway, asking me to give Scott a kiss goodbye. Wait, did he mean goodbye for now or a more permanent goodbye?

Two years ago, someone hit a HUGE pause button on the life I expected. And my focus was interrupted in multiple ways. A large rock thrown by another 10-year-old boy. An accidental injury. Combine that with my daughter’s chronic illness, and you will understand why for these last two years caregiving has been my center of attention.

Interrupted or not, I have been reminded of the power of focus. Here is what I have learned so far:
1. Focus requires intentionality.
We live in a world filled with randomness and uncertainty. It will never be easy to keep your focus. Gaining and maintaining focus requires daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly pause points, where you look up and make sure you are still headed in the right direction.
2. Focus creates momentum.
When you and I determine to pursue a goal and then focus our activities around that goal, we create movement. Movement eventually leads to momentum. Dave Ramsey’s Momentum Theorem states, “Focused intensity over time multiplied by God creates momentum.” Now, that is a powerful truth!
3. Focus relieves pain.
Ever find yourself concerned about too many things? When you feel pain, it is a signal! The agonizing ache you sense when you are overcommitted or overwhelmed is not meant to be ignored. Focus allows you to let go of the unimportant in favor of the most important things. When you trim your life or ministry down to those things that really deserve your attention, you feel less pain…which means you find more joy.

For the record, Scott is doing well, despite the lasting effects of the injury. He has quite a few medical complications, but he does well in school and is enjoying being a middle-schooler. And me...I am learning a focus on the truly important things is not really a loss of focus at all.

What deserves your personal or leadership focus today?

Internal Signals

"As much as we long for external signs that point the way to the future, we must settle for inner signals that alert us to the proximity of new beginnings." - William Bridges

Despite Bridges' elegant description of the hint of a realized future, his words can't begin to describe the tension-filled climate of one seeking positive change who is unable to either see it or have it neatly offered up. The complexity of our human existence often lends itself to messy ends, waiting periods and new starts. Rarely is a new beginning crisply and cleverly packaged. More often it's a mish mosh. Some things ending, others beginning and a few things stuck in neutral.

What I find so profound about Bridges' thought is the fact that in the muddle of our misshapen lives, we can count on the new rising up in us. We can learn to lean into those subtle internal signals that point us correctly in the direction of a better future. I believe in the best of circumstances these are God-inspired moments, His signals of prompted change.

So my question to you is this: what God-inspired internal signals are rising up in you? And what should you do about them? Or better yet, what will you do?

No goodbyes?

In my forward-thinking, future-focused world, new beginnings covet all my attention. Endings...not so much.

I know how to say goodbye. Sometimes I even over do it. But in my people-loving, the world-is-one-big-family mindset, I don't like to say goodbye. I'd rather holler, "see you later," as I whiz out of sight. And to me, later might mean next week or it could mean in heaven. When my circumstances change, I'm typically the first one to be ready to climb the next mountain. (Unless of course I wind up pouting about the unexpected or unfair nature of life.) I like new stuff.

But...endings are important.

When you move across the country, when your circumstances are drastically altered, when your ministry is ready for change, even when your wife wants you to learn to hang up your towel and you finally agree...you MUST acknowledge endings well. Each ending deserves attention. You must identify the losses and grieve them. You must discern how to provide closure, and you need to figure out how to celebrate contributions. You must pay attention to what it takes to effectively change.

Endings should not become THE focal point, but they must be a stopping point each time change is imminent. Glaze over them and you will miss the richness of celebration. Neglect them and you'll have people clinging to the way things used to be.

To what or whom do you need to say your goodbyes?

The soul never thinks without a picture

"The soul never thinks without a picture." - Aristotle

Just thinking about vision gets my heart pumping, my adrenaline flowing and my mind whirling. I can palpably feel a sense of urgency whenever I consider creating, clarifying or communicating a vision. In his book Visioneering, Andy Stanley suggests, "Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what could be." That pretty much describes me: consumed by seeing what could be and how to help leaders and churches get there.

So what stops other church leaders from being as excited as I am about vision? Perhaps some leaders lack an understanding of the power of vision. Maybe some simply don't know how to get a vision from their heads into action. I love working with both these kinds of leaders, because as I said I'm passionate about vision. But the church leader who needs the most help when it comes to vision is the one who is afraid of leading change or who leads a church afraid of change.

Churches have a unique ability to know something is not working, know something needs to change then shield their souls from the need to change by touting tradition and an unwillingness to cause offense. This drives me crazy. Churches need to learn how to change when a change would make them more effective and more transformational. Churches ought to lead the way in understanding change. But for as many churches who fear change, there seem to be an equal number of churches and church leaders who too quickly jump on any change bandwagon that passes by. Where some churches decline for lack of change, others seem to alienate people as they reactively change ministry to suit the current trends.

That's why it all comes back to vision and why I'm so passionate about this leadership tool. When leaders understand not only what could be, but also what should be done in their unique church in their next season, a God-inspired vision is born. Then change is simple and obvious (though not always easy) because it flows from a picture of a unique God-designed future.

Apply this to your church. Apply it at home. We did and we're moving half way across the United States. For us that's an obvious God-inspired change. What picture does your soul need to see this season? Do you have the courage to change?

Introducing Online Consulting Resources

The Synergy Box has just released a series of online consulting resources for the creative arts ministry in your church. Online consulting, how does that work? Each resource is designed to introduce you to a critical topic on arts leadership, identity, culture or creativity and includes an overview of the topic and a discussion guide to help you lead your team through an assessment of your ministry in this area. After you've finished your discussion, you can email your notes to The Synergy Box, and within seven to ten days, you'll receive personalized suggestions for your church arts ministry.

The Synergy Box also offers telephone consulting and on-site consulting services. Check out our website at http://www.thesynergybox.com/.

Visit our booth at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta this week!

Artistic Style in the Church

Should churches be traditional, blended, contemporary or edgy in artistic style? What do you think? When you walk into a church should it feel tried and true or should it surprise and even shock you? Yikes! Even trying to answer this question is kinda like walking up to a ticking bomb and trying to diffuse it with only ten seconds left on the clock (not that I've ever actually been in that situation to know what it really feels like). I'm guessing most of us would be inclined to run should we ever encounter a ticking bomb...and we likely feel the same way about a discussion on artistic style in the church.

While artistic style in the church can become a very complicated and even volatile issue in the church, I'd like to simplify it a bit with the following observations:

1. Art is subjective.

While one person will enjoy traditional worship, another will enjoy rock and roll. One is not better than another. Each one, however, will reach different people.

2. The artistic culture you create will attract some people but not others.

People may attend your church for the teaching or the community, but many picked your church because the style of the church suits their preferences. They probably picked your church because the art and the culture makes it feel like home to them. Others didn't like your music or culture and went elsewhere.

3. You need to choose your artistic style intentionally.

Because art is subjective and because people will tend to come based on the feel of your church, you must choose your artistic style carefully. Trying to be all things to all people dilutes your effectiveness. People have tons of choices when it comes to church (with the exception of smaller rural communities). Choose the style God had called you to and execute it with confidence. Your reach will be more effective when you focus on a target. It's still true that if you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time.

My real point: Get clear on your church's artistic style. You'll do more for God's kingdom by addressing the issue head on than by only talking about it when the music of the day doesn't suit someone's personal preferences.

What's Your Ministry DNA?

Churches have a certain feel to them. Walk into one church and it's friendly and laid back. Visit another and it's more formal and liturgical. Every church feels different. That's what I'd call church DNA. It's the visible and invisible culture of a church or ministry.

Ever think about how your church "feels" to the people to attend? To visitors? My guess is that the first time you entered your building or attended a church service, you thought a ton about it. You wondered if it felt right to you. You carefully critiqued the atmosphere, the people and the services. You wanted to know if you could feel at home at the church. You explored its DNA.

We either resonate with the DNA of a church or ministry or we don't. So, what if you're the leader and you don't like some of the things you discover about your DNA? Well, it can be changed, but be prepared for an intentional and lengthy change process, because DNA shifts require time, patience and visionary leadership.

For the most part, DNA is discovered, not decided. Ultimately changes over a long period of time can alter the DNA of your church or ministry, but for the most part, your church DNA is set. If you've always been known as the most friendly church in town, it's unlikely that you'll suddenly become unfriendly. If you've always valued solid Bible teaching, you're not going to give that up. But once you discover and understand your DNA, you can work with it...not against it.

Why not throw your energy behind your reputation as a "compassionate, friendly, authentic, forward-thinking church?" Or whatever positives your church is known for. It makes sense to build on those attributes of your church God is already using to move people toward Christ.

Vision

One of my very favorite topics is vision. I love visioneering: the act of envisioning a picture of your preferred future and catalyzing yourself, your team or your church toward it. My pulse increases when I talk vision with other leaders. My spirit lifts. My passion increases. I'm fanatical about vision.

So what is it that gets me all worked up about creating a picture of a preferred future? It's results. Leading a team of people toward a specific goals and watching them take joy in the journey is compelling. You get results when people pool their skills, gifts and energy toward a common future. Contrast that with managing people stuck in the nitty-gritty of a day to day tedium that moves people no where. No results. At least none that probably really matter.

My challenge for you today is to consider whether you have a picture of a preferred future for your ministry or your church. Or one for yourself personally. Where do you want to be in one year, five years, ten years. While the Holy Spirit must lead and guide and direct our steps, it's our job to plan. We plan, He guides. We step, He leads. Vision is not what we might do, not what we're thinking about doing...it's what we MUST do.

Craft a compelling vision today you will achieve results.

5 Ways to Influence Your Church

Ever wish you could change your church? I have. While change for the sake of change itself is never the goal, sometimes our churches get stuck in patterns of activity or ministry that are no longer effective. When this occurs, sitting in the pews (or even in a seat of leadership) and observing fruitless leadership or ministry can drive a person crazy.

So how can you gain influence in your church? How can you gain the ability to speak into ministry? Check out these five suggestions:

1. Be respectful - Criticizing and pulling in the opposite direction of your current leadership is a certain way to diminish your voice. Most pastors and leaders are doing the best they can. Offer respect for their efforts.
   
2. Get involved - Want to make your voice heard? Get into the trenches first by serving selflessly and earning the right to be heard. Your voice will mean more when you're a participant instead of an observer.
   
3. Offer support - Pastors and leaders in the church are super busy, so when you come alongside them and meet their immediate needs, you'll likely have space and opportunity to offer influence as well.
   
4. Offer solutions - If you see a problem, become a problem solver. Offer viable solutions to an existing problem and you will be seen as a partner in ministry, instead of a critic.
   
5. Stay positive - While you might easily picture a better future, you cannot expect your church to change overnight. Stay helpful and positive. It's one of the best ways you can continue to encourage and motivate your leaders.

Why does it matter? You may be the one to change a church for the better...and in the process offer eternal life and connection with God to hundreds if not thousands of people. Influence is an investment. Choose where to invest yours wisely.

Vision and Art

A few months ago, I was caught driving in a thunderstorm on my way from state to state. I knew I would need to drive into it, because the radar predicted storms all night, and I had my children with me. We couldn't stay where we were and yet we knew we'd have to face a huge storm to get where we needed to be. To make matters worse, tornadoes had touched down along the road we needed to travel along. After waiting for the right moment, double-checking the radar and saying a prayer, we set out.

At one point as we drove the rain was so intense the road seemed to disappear under the dark river of water and the windshield wipers refused to keep up with the torrent of rain. My stomach knotted up as I drove, seemingly knowing it was unsafe to keep going and unsafe to stop. It's amazing how much a situation like that fosters prayer! After several hours of wheel-gripping stress-producing driving, we made it home safely and without incident.

I am struck by the fact that sometimes leading in the church can feel an awful lot like my moments of terror on the road. We know we can't stay where we are, we know we need to move forward but we fear the journey will be filled with unpredictable and somewhat dangerous events. In times like this, we desperately need vision!

"Vision," says Andy Stanley, author of Visioneering, "is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be." I love this definition. We need both a picture of a preferred future and a conviction that moves us to action. Our churches need this type of vision.

So what role do the arts play in vision? Put basically, a clear mental picture of the future is just that: a picture. And painting pictures is what art does so well. Art acts as a tool for bringing both the mind, emotions and spirit together as you paint a portrait of a preferred future. Art connects a mental image with the story we're all living, while adding color, life and energy to the ideas. Art has the power to influence and convey your vision.

While all visions have those scary, dark moments when it seems like we cannot see the road ahead, art gives us the ability to focus our hearts and minds on the convictions we carry that move us ahead even during the difficult times. Art also helps us see the beauty of God's plans for our lives and churches, turning storm clouds into beacons that guide us home.

Let's use our art to help our churches see the wonder of bringing souls into God's Kingdom, the beauty of fully surrendering ourselves to our Maker and the plans God has for our own hope and future. Art speaks. It feels. It breathes into us. Let's harness the power of art to help us move to the places we know we need to be and toward the people we want to become.