RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

A name is coming to mind right now as you read the title of this article. 

You know...the person who always approaches you with a negative word.  The person who throws cold water on the new idea.  The person who is quick to remind you that "we tried that before and it didn't work."  The person who opposes the vision God has placed in your heart for the ministry.

Don't worry...you're not alone.  Every ministry has a Debbie Downer.  It's just part of being a leader in ministry.  No matter what you do...there will be a Debbie Downer who wants to halt progress.

But you can't let the negativity of this person derail the growth and forward movement God wants to bring to your ministry.  And as the leader, you've got to overcome the roadblocks negative people drop in the pathway of progress.

Here's 5 ways to lead past negativity.

Bring the facts.  Be ready to show the stats that prove why this change must be made.  An example would be showing that your attendance has plateaued or is in decline.  Let the facts speak for themselves.  Hard evidence will counter negative opposition.

Meet the status quo head-on.  A lot of negativity comes from someone not wanting to move out of their comfort zone.  Change is hard for people and brings out insecurities.   Counter this with the consequences of letting the status quo continue.  Help them see why they must move the boat away from the dock and into deeper waters. 

Challenge sweeping statements.   You'll hear statements like, "If it ain't broke..." or "we're doing okay" or "things are fine the way they are."  Anticipate these type of statements and be ready to challenge them.

Show how everyone will win.  Negative people tend to dwell on the past.  They rarely look into the future. Your biggest tool for overcoming negativity is vision.  Help people see the end result and how they will benefit.  

Focus on the goal instead of winning the argument.  Your goal is not to "win the argument" with the negative person.  The goal is to bring them along with you on the journey.  The natural trajectory with negative people is to turn it into something personal.  Don't fall into this trap.  Make it about the vision and direction rather than about personal agendas.

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  What are some other tips for overcoming Debbie Downer?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.  And please...don't list the names of your Debbie Downers.  They might read this.  No need adding fuel to the fire.  Just kidding.

A study done by the Economist Intelligence Unit revealed the top three skills that will be the most important over the next five years for leaders.

The ability to motivate and empower volunteers.  It will not be what you can do...it will be what you can empower others to do.  The strength of your ministry will rise or fall on your ability to build a team of volunteers.  A one-man show won't take you where you need to go over the next five years.

Steps to take:

• Read everything you can about leading volunteers.
• Be intentional about pouring into your volunteers.  Make it one of your top priorities.  Build it into your weekly schedule.
• Study great motivators.  How do they communicate?  How do they convey their passion?  How do they inspire?

The ability to work well with others.  Collaboration must replace dictation.  You must be able to facilitate a team environment.  Personal agenda must be laid aside.  People will not follow your title or "authority."  They will follow you when they know you care about them and want to add value to their life.  They are looking for a "coach" not a "boss."

Steps to take:

• Sharpen your people skills. 
• Become very good at facilitating team discussions. 
• Become very good at conflict resolution.

The ability to facilitate change.  A key difference in successful and unsuccessful leaders will be the willingness to get out of their comfort zone and adapt to changing surroundings.  Ministry is a rapidly flowing river...not a pond.  You must be fluid and flexible to avoid becoming irrelevant.  Leaders who know how to successfully lead people through change will thrive.

Steps to take:

• Watch how great leaders lead people through change.
• Challenge the status quo of your ministry.  Evaluate your programs and processes on a regular basis.  Be willing to ask the hard questions and take action.
• Improve your communication methods.  One of the biggest parts of effective change is how you communicate it.
  

What other skills do you believe leaders need heading into the next 5 years?
What are some leadership skills you want to improve in?

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.