When you chase two rabbits, you lose both.
This phenomenal, clear and simplistic statement is still a stretch for many leaders.
Scripture confirms, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24 NIV) “An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many different directions.” (Proverbs 17:24 GNT)
The tale of two teams.
One team prayerfully discovers their Vision, strategizes a plan and works together on annual goals. They work as a team and demonstrate their expertise in sporting events. Soccer players run together, pass the ball and block the other team in order to score some goals and win the game. Football players follow a quarterback and implement the plays to achieve a touchdown, scoring points. Olympic teams practice their skills to enhance their performance and anticipate their partner’s skill to achieve the Gold medal.
The other team does not bother with a vision, plan, strategy or practice. Each individual works independently with no respect or desire to work together. The goal is undefined, unexpected and unrealistic. Hence, no team, no team work and poor results.
“An ancient Greek parable distinguishes between foxes, which know many small things, and hedgehogs, which know one big thing. All good-to-great leaders, it turns out, are hedgehogs. They know how to simplify a complex world into a single, organizing idea the kind of basis principle that unifies, organizes, and guides all decisions.” (Jim Collins, Good to Great)
Think about your church, your missions committee or Leadership Board. Are all your team members sharing and working together? Are your annual goals fitly framed together with other team and committee members? Is your whole church demonstrating God’s love to our world?
Leadership is … each member sharing and working together to accomplish God’s Vision.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com