7 SIMPLE STEPS TO BETTER FOCUS AS A LEADER
FOCUS. Most leadership doesnât focus well
Life just happens. They donât prioritize. Next year will look a lot like last year. A little betterâŚa little worse.  Thereâs something inherently evil in most leadersâ minds about being FOCUSED. FOCUS impliesâŚ
Accountability to themselves.
Accountability to others.
An expectation that something will actually result. That something should result.
Church leadership finds it doubly hard to focus.
They all scream againstâŚ
Taking control of priorities,
Giving direction to life, and
Allocating attention and energy.
My guess? Youâre in the overwhelming majority of leaders that fight against focus.
My second guess? If youâve been knocked down in the pit (like Elijah) and lost confidence or clarity or your own sense of calling as a Christian leader, you need someone who can regularly share the burden, speak a word of grace, and spot the hand of God at work.
My third guess? The life that you lead and the church community that you lead is paying a heavy price because you resist biting the bullet and getting FOCUSED. You, personally, as a leaderâŚgetting FOCUSED.
When leadership gets better, everyone benefits.
Leadership too frequently refuses to take responsibility for leading God-inspired things forward.
Strong words! What do I know?
Well, I know I donât like the personal discipline or the accountability of FOCUS. I want âeverythingâ to be a focus, until I experience its results.
So, hereâs my challenge for you⌠Youâre going to keep doing much of what youâre already doing. Right? But what about a FOCUS on one thing, big or smallâŚletâs do smallâŚfor the next 45 days. Donât aim at urgent. Go for important. Something important to your well being, to vibrancy of the believers you lead, to wider influence in your church and local community.
My fourth and final guess? Many of the leaders who enroll in PLI (3 new learning communities start this fall) have decided that itâs time (usually together with their spouse) to FOCUS on some serious capacity building in the area of Christian leadership or discipleship or mission.
So, hereâs a Simple Way for Church Leadership to FOCUS! Donât make this difficult!
1. Write a quick FOCUS list. You probably already knowâŚ
A âneed to growâ area.
An âimprove your gameâ for your church community, your soul, your family.
2. Have a conversation and make a choice.
3. Write it down. Seriously. Just write it down.
5. Tell someone and tell them you want to report progress to them.
6. Measure it for the next 45 days.
7. And if you want, promise yourself a reward, a payoff, when you finish.
And, if back at my second guess is you? The âno confidence, no clarity, no callingâ pit? Your focus needs to be a person or place that regularly listens and invests and speaks boldly into your lifeâŚuntil youâre out of the pit! Period. Too much is at stake to do anything else.
Lots of whatâs going right in our lives and ministries today is a result of a past focus. Right?
I did this a month or so ago. I chose a simple tweak. To journal the front portion of my praying. (I used to do this.) A small addition. Slow me down. Review the events of my life better with God. Thanksgiving⌠Petition⌠Intervention⌠7 days a week. Iâve been hitting about 5 days a week. My soul is healthier.
1. Hit the share button below and invite a couple of friends or leaders or peers to join you if youâre not already doing FOCUS well.
2. Start together. Stay together.
3. Contact Raechel if itâs time to âbite the bulletâ for some serious discipleship, leadership or mission FOCUS.
4. And if you want, let me know your FOCUS and how itâs going.
