Are you in a season of life where you’re not sure what God’s doing, yet you sense He’s up to something? You can’t see what’s next but you get a clear sense there’s a next coming?  God uses transition periods not only to grow us as leaders but also to bring us back to baseline dependence on Him. Transitions are seldom clear, rarely without sacrifice and never easy. Yet there are times God unexpectedly brings new assignments that will stretch and grow us in ways we had not imagined.

I’ve stood at that crossroad of a potential transition a few times in my life.  I remember when I was an associate pastor at Pawleys Island community Church, I was happy and thought I would be there my whole life.  Then without warning God stirred a discontent in my spirit. No one made me angry, hurt my feelings or offended me in anyway, there was just a strange sense that God was moving me. While the feeling was clear the direction was not.  So I decided to go on a journey of discovery and through this process God miraculously made it clear that I was to plant a church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

If you get a sense that God may be preparing you for a change make sure you position yourself to listen intently for His will. Here’s a process that’s helped me navigate a couple of transitions over the past 20 years. 

• Set aside a specified time for a Journey of Discovery.  I’m not saying to put God on a time limit, but I am suggesting that you determine a period of time where you focus intensely on listening for God’s direction.  When I was sensing a change at Pawleys Island I chose to do a 90 day journey. 
• Fast and Pray.  During my tine of uncertainty in Pawleys Island I decided to fast every Thursday.  This intensified time of prayer lead me to a greater sense of dependence and surrender.
• Study a Specific Passage or Biblical Character.  Asked God to show you a specific Scripture that will be your primary devotional focus during this time. In my early 90’s transition I studied the book of Nehemiah.  During my 2004 transition that brought me to Seacoast Church I studied the life of Abraham. 
• Seek Godly Counsel- On two different occasions I asked 7 men to meet with me one on one that I might seek their counsel.  These were men I knew and trusted.  Men I felt had a sense of what God may be doing in my life.  Or in some cases they were men who had been down a similar path that I was currently on.  Their counsel proved to be invaluable.  I journaled the highlights of everyone of those conversations and would go back again and again to review what God was saying to me.
• Journal daily God Sightings.  During my time of seeking I journaled like a mad man capturing every little whisper of God’s voice.  I looked for daily “God sightings”, those small things you see God doing in your life that give you indications of His will.  Do this over a 30, 60 or 90 day period and you will be amazed how active God is in giving you daily direction.
• Journey With Your Spouse.  Many times when you’re feeling a transition coming you’re tempted to keep it from your spouse so they won’t worry.  But God wants to use your spouse as part of the confirmation process.  If you keep if from them you’re limiting their joy and potentially their sense of peace during this discovery process.  When I was considering a transition from Pawleys Island I talked with my wife daily about the journey and what God was saying to her.  In the end she was convinced of what God was doing before I was.

I’ve used this process for three major transitions in my life. While this may not work for you the point is if God is whispering, “I have something new for you” define a process that will help you listen to His heart in an intensified way.

Are there days you just want to quit?  Quitting occupied my thinking most Monday’s when I was a senior pastor.  Everyday there are leaders who’ve responded to God’s calling that find themselves tempted to give up.  For one reason or another they leave a job, abandon a project, walk out on a vision, ditch a  dream or give up on a goal.  The thing that once stirred passion in their soul somehow became a burden, a chore or an anxiety they could no longer endure.  

Quitting isn’t always a bad thing, in fact there are times it’s the wise thing to do.  But other times a leader finds himself in a dangerous place spiritually, emotionally or physically where he feels he just can’t go forward.  Elijah reached this point in 1 Kings 19 when Jezzabel was seeking to take his life.  He said, “I have had enough Lord take my life.” 1 Kings 19:4.  He had hit a quitting point.

So why do we sometimes find ourselves tempted to quit?  There are lots of possibilities….

• We get… tired, discouraged, criticized, opposition
• We run out of…time, money, opportunity, resources
• We lose… support, confidence, faith, passion, vision

Regardless of what got us to that point the fact is we find ourselves in a place where we’ve lost hope.  So how do we reduce the temptation to quit?

• Get rest – An angel came to Elijah in his depressed state and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7).  When a leader is physically drained he becomes emotionally weak and finds it easier to give up.  Get rest, eat right and exercise and you will regain the energy to keep going.  A wise leader pauses regularly to rebuild his reserves.
• Get Perspective –   Elijah moaned that he was the only righteous one left and was feeling isolated and abandoned.  So God told him, “Go out and stand before me on the mountain.” 1 Kings 19:11  It was there God spoke to him and gave him a whole new perspective. Most of the time when we’re tempted to quit we’re looking at our situation from a wrong perspective.  It’s easy to find ourselves looking through the lens of discouragement or criticism.  Instead we must discover God’s perspective on our situation.
• Get a Fresh Direction – God spoke to Elijah and gave him instructions for what was next, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.”  1 Kings 19:15-16.  Sometimes simply getting clarity on our next step is all we need to gain the strength to move forward.
• Get Support – God directed Elijah to find Elisha and anoint him as his understudy.  “So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat…then he went with Elijah as his assistant.” 1Kings 19:19,21.  When discouraged it’s essential that we surround ourselves with others who’s faith is strong.  Leaning on someone else in times of discouragement is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

What helps you push through quitting points?

This week I had the opportunity to be at one of Leadership Networks Innovation Labs.  This particular Lab focused on The Radical Future of Small Groups.  During these two days eight churches (Seacoast Church, Cross Point CommunityChurch, Calvary Chapel Ft Lauderdale, Ada Bible Church, North Coast Church, Christian Community Church, National Community Church, North Ridge Church) gathered to discussed what cultural factors are influencing groups, look at what small groups might look like in the next ten years and develop plans that will help our churches make necessary adjustments.

The Innovation Labs aren’t designed to teach or tell you what to do, it’s more of a collaborative effort to think, dream, discuss and innovate.  Several of you on Twitter asked me to share notes from this two day experience.  Because it was such an interactive and creative process I didn’t take a lot of notes but here’s my late night effort to provide something for those who asked…

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  • The eight churches in the room brainstormed what they felt where the most significant societal changes over the past 20 years that are greatly impacting the future of groups…  There was a long list but here are some of the top answers.
    • Multisite
    • Instant Global communication
    • Social Networking – Technology
    • Missional idea is in vogue
    • Options for everything…more and more choices every where you go
    • Our third place is no longer the front porch…it’s now Starbucks  (home, work, third place is the other place you meet people)  For some the third place is Facebook.
    • Culture is desensitized, over-sexualized and more tolerant
    • Social justice movement (Bono One Campaign)
    • Explosion of addiction and Recovery as a result of that
    • Desire for personalized/customized spiritual journey
• We have to make adjustments in small groups that help people stop compartmentalizing life and faith. 
• There is a huge buzz around mid-sized missional communties that gather groups around a particular mission. 
• Something needs to be done to engage the 20-30 year olds, they are black hole in the church.  Churches are struggling to engage them.
• Small groups are the vehicle to make mission happen
• When www.smallgrouptrader asked over 100 small group directors what their biggest issues where the top three were…  Recruiting, training and resources.
• With the further development of technology churches are trending toward providing leadership training online.
• Some church leaders are afraid to go the missional route because they’re afraid they’ll lose community and care but community and care actually skyrockets.
• We used to think once people are discipled we need to get them to serve.  Today we get people to serve in order to experience discipleship. 
• If you want small groups to be a priority in your church then make the gutsy move to eliminate the ministries that compete with groups.
• De-centralize your missional efforts by empowering small groups to make a difference in the community.
• The church has to pay attention to the social networking movement.  It’s not going away and while we still need face to face as our primary way of relating social networking can help sustain and enhance those relationships.
• You can’t ignore the corporate culture of your church as you design and change your small group ministry.  Understand the values of your senior leader because you cant violate their culture.

What adjustments is your church considering with groups ministry?

I was in Dallas recently assisting with one of Leadership Network’s Innovation Labs.  Innovation Labs are designed to help you overcome the common obstacles to innovative thinking and problem solving in developing a ministry area.  

Is your church looking for the chance to explore new ideas and discover a new path? Do you sometimes feel caught between ideas and action? You’re not alone. That’s why Leadership Network has developed The Innovation Lab, a unique environment designed to help you overcome the common obstacles to innovative thinking and problem solving in developing a ministry area.

JumpStart Innovation Labs are designed to give you a quick start in a ministry area, based on the proven results of others.  Leadership Network is launching the two new multi-site jumpstart labs in 2010.   If you are interested or know of someone that might be, email Greg Ligon at greg.ligon@leadnet.org.  In the video below Greg shares the vision of these labs.

Yesterday I wrote about the dangers of falling into maintenance mode.  All of us have found ourselves in that place where we’ve lost our passion, energy or vision.  So here are a few questions to help assess what cause us to drift into maintenance mode and some suggestions for finding our way out.

1. Is it a spiritual issue?  You may be stuck because you’re simply not hearing anything new from God.  He led you to the place you are currently serving and when you first arrived you had vision, momentum and inspiration.  What do you need to do to get a fresh word from God again?
2. Is it a physical issue?  If you’re tired, stressed and unable to sleep then your maintenance mode problem may be from a lack of eating right and exercise.  It’s difficult to build organizational momentum when you don’t have the physical energy to move things forward.  A lifestyle change rather than a diet is the best solution. 
3. Is it a mental issue?  I was talking with a friend recently who told me, “I’ve gotten lazy mentally, I’m no longer on the cutting edge, I’m not reading, watching others, or learning.”  Mental laziness can lead to a lack of creativity and innovation.  Practice exposing your mind to something stimulating every week to keep your thinking sharp. 
4. Is it an emotional issue?  Sometimes as leaders we run so hard and fast that we get emotionally drained and it’s all we can do to maintain our baseline responsibilities.   Practice the weekly discipline of taking a day off.  This time of rest and recovery will keep you emotionally filled and fuel your creative energies.
5. Is it a relational issue?  There are times we allow others to drag us into maintenance mode.  Make sure you have people around you that challenge you, stretch your thinking and dream about future possibilities with you.  And on the flip side make sure you’re not spending too much time with people that drain you.

Which of the issues above tend to throw you into maintenance mode?  Which of the areas do you need to work on this week to keep youself sharp?

Are you living with a high sense of momentum or have you fallen into maintenance mode? 

In the world of software development programmers use the term maintenance mode to refer to that time which a program is considered to be complete and further development is unnecessary.   There have been times I’ve found myself at this point, not because I consider myself complete, but because I’ve lost my energy, passion or vision.  While maintenance mode is a good thing for a computer program, it’s a dangerous thing for a leader or an organization. 

When a leader hits maintenance mode he suffers from  boredom, feels unchallenged, let’s opportunities pass him by, settles for good enough, speaks less frequently about the vision, no longer carries a passionate energy and worst of all he stops looking for God sized things to happen.   If you stay there to long it has a negative impact on your organization.  Here are five common dangers when a leader gets stuck in maintenance mode

• It breeds a spirit of complacency among other team members
• It causes the organization to miss prime opportunities
• It kills creativity and innovation
• It causes others to settle for mediocrity
• It reduces fresh movements from the hand of God
• It brings growth to a halt

Do you see signs of maintenance mode in your leadership?  What do you need to do this week to stir a fresh momentum and movement of God?  If you could see God do one thing in your life or ministry over the next 30 days what would it be?

Why is it that simplicity is so difficult?  As leaders we recognize the wisdom of keeping things simple, yet we seem inexplicably drawn to complexity. 

When I planted a church in 1997 my mantra was “Do less and do it better.”  When pressed to start Sunday  School, Wednesday night services or special ministries I answered, “No, we’re going to do less and do it better.”   For three years I held true to that principle until we moved out of a weekly set up and tear down facility into our own building.  Suddenly we went from doing a few things well, to starting a multitude of new ministries, programs and events that served to reduce our effectiveness .  Quantity won out over quality and it hurt us.

Why did it happen?  Lots of reasons…the pressure to please people, neglecting our predetermined strategy, getting caught up in our success and loss of focus, just to name a few.  It’s easy to build a complex church, ministry or life, all you have to do is add more.  But simplicity is the product of intentionality and discipline.  And it’s this focused simplicity that allows us to be more effective in what we do.

Are you longing for excellence?  Maybe your next step isn’t improving what you have, but eliminating those things that aren’t absolutely essential to your mission.

I read a study today that said only 25% of US employees think their employer has earned their loyalty.  Over the past couple of days I’ve done posts regarding a followers loyalty.  But loyalty is a two way relationship.  A leader values loyalty but can’t demand it.  We value it because we know a loyal employee is more likely to be trustworthy, give their best effort, represent the organization well, help shape a positive culture, believe deeply in the mission and be with us for the long haul.  But since you can’t demand loyalty how do build it among those you lead?  Here are a few of the basics…

• Be grateful.  Show gratitude for the value everyone brings to the organization.  Appreciation is a glue that makes good workers stick around.
• Be inspiring.  Cast a vision showing how your organization will change the world or make life better for those in need.  People want to know they’re giving their lives to something that’s genuinely significant.  
• Be vulnerable.  Admit your mistakes and be honest about your weaknesses.
• Be encouraging. Find ways to add value to everyone in the organization.   Catch people doing something right and let them know about it.  People want to feel valued by and valuable to their leader.
• Be fair. Ken Blanchard says, “There is nothing as unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.”
• Be trustworthy.  Demonstrate high integrity in all you say and do.

Today’s Leadership Challenge: Choose one of the “BE’s” from the list above and find a tangible way to put it into action today.

1. Speak positively about your leader and organization at all times.
2. When you disagree with a decision or the direction of the organization speak only with those who have the authority to represent your concern.
3. Use your interpersonal skills to build team unity rather than builing a personal following.  (Are you seeking loyalty to yourself or supporting loyalty to the organization?)
4. Be an asset to your organization by demonstrating a positive attitude even in the tough times.  The attitude each one of us displays shapes the corporate culture in which we work. 
5. Avoid using negative body language to communicate your frustration or dissatisfaction with the leadership of your organization.
6. Work hard and go the extra mile.
7. Express gratitude for the positive characteristics of your leader and organization.

Remember loyalty is demonstrated in your words and actions and is a reflection of your character.  What would you add to this list?

I’ve never served under a leader that I agreed 100% with everything he or she said or did.  My guess is you’re experience has been the same.  But agreement is not the basis of loyalty.  Loyalty is rooted in relationship and respect regardless of differing opinions, approaches or philosophies. 

Disloyalty generally develops slowly and subtly slips it’s way into a persons character.  It expresses itself through pseudo commitment, self-promotion and slanderous comments that ultimately dismantles people’s confidence in the leader.   It’s not always obvious and outright, in fact it’s more commonly understated and simple.  This was the approach Absalom took when he began to undermine his father David’s leadership.  2 Samuel 15:2-6 tells us,

Absalom would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision…Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” 4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice.”  5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

This took place over a four year period of time and slowly but surely Absalom dismantled the people’s confidence in David’s leadership.  While it’s not likely that you’re planning on overthrowing the Senior Pastor at your church or CEO of your organization we still have to be careful in our daily interactions to demonstrate flawless loyalty to our leaders.  Simple phases like, “I wouldn’t do it that way but…”, “I’m not sure why he chose to go that direction” OR “Her decision didn’t make any sense to me” can have destructive effects on the leader of your organization.   While these phrases may sound like a simple expression of opinion it’s also a subtle expression of disloyalty that undermines others confidence in the leader.

What do you need to do this week to reinforce loyalty to your leader and organization?