I recently came across a word that I did not know, one that was not included in a Webster’s dictionary due to its technical use in the field of biology. What was I to do? Google it, of course!
And I had my answer in seconds.
Now back in my college days when email was avant-garde and I avoided computers like the plague, such instant gratification was not possible.
However, it is a new day. As long as we are wired, we get what we want in the now.
While living in the instant can be helpful at times, it can also be problematic for leaders. Instant can temper us to push against the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)–especially in matters such as patience and self-control. While we could think of numerous practical examples of this, one place where the conflict is found is in the realm of strategic planning. Conflict here is not good for leaders–or the people we lead.
John Mark Terry and I have written a book titled Developing Missionary Strategy that is scheduled to be released next year in Baker’s Encountering Mission series. We define strategic planning as:
“a prayerfully discerned, Spirit-guided process, of preparation, development, implementation, and evaluation of the necessary steps involved for missionary endeavors”
Discerned
Guided
Process
Development
Implementation
Evaluation
Steps
Nothing quick involved. Such is the way of all strategy. Nothing immediate. Strategic planning wars against the instant and our desire to live in the now. You can’t Google your strategy.
Every good leader is a strategist. Every good leader bears the fruit of the Spirit. . . and that includes patience and self-control.
Do you need to grow as a leader by stepping away from your search engine for a while?
(image source: iStockPhoto Microsoft)
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