28 Apr 21 Strategic Questions Every Pastor Needs To Answer
We’re working on a new leadership workshop about how to be a more strategic pastor.
So over the last few days I’ve been reading a ton so I did a brain dump to get my thoughts out before I lost them.
I hope you find this helpful.
Most pastors and church leaders I talk with are doing a ton! With little to no margin for anything extra. So how can you gain margin, make a bigger impact and reach more people?!
How can you be more strategic with the limited staff and resources you have?
Well, First you’ll need to figure out what’s not working and stop doing it!
This will free up time, money, energy, and people.
Next figure out your strengths. The more you invest in these areas the better returns you’ll see.
Then look ahead and see if there’s anything coming around the corner you can capitalize on.
And last take note of the risk. When you say yes to something you have to say no to something else.
So here are the 4 stages of planning and 21 questions to help you walk through this type of planning.
The 4 Stages of Strategic Planning
Stage 1 -Abandonment
1. What’s not working?
Ask this of every ministry or program you’re currently doing;
2. If we were not already committed to this, would we start it today?
If the answer is no, then ask;
3. How can we get out of this – fast?
Stage 2 – Concentration
4. What ministry or programs are the most successful, today?
5. Where do we see the best returns?
6. What is it that we do best?
7. Can we set the bar higher in those areas?
8. How can we better resource those areas and those leaders?
Stage 3 – Innovation
9. What does our community value?
10. What emerging issues do we see in our community?
11. Do any of those values/issues lineup with any of our strengths?
If yes, then,
12. what ministry or programs might be the most successful, next year?
13. What ministry or programs might be the most successful, in 3 years?
14. What ministry or programs might be the most successful, in 5 years?
15. What ministry or programs might be the most successful, in 10 years?
Stage 4 – Risk Analysis
So hopefully by now you have some ideas about where you can invest those extra resources you freed up from stage one.
Don’t say;
This is how we’ll do it.
Instead ask;
16. What will this require?
17. How much will it cost?
18. How long will it take?
19. Who can we learn from?
20. What do we need to learn?
21. What do we not know?
All this planning is meaningless unless you execute on the plan and hold your team accountable to the plan.
So here’s a bonus.
The 3 T’s of Effective Execution
Treasure – This is the budget for the plan.
Settings a realistic budget is key if anything of quality is going to get done in a meaningful way. You can’t give someone a huge new project and not resource them!
Talent – This is the person responsible for executing the plan.
There needs to be one key leader for this plan. Now that one person might have a team of people they can collaborate with but at the end of the day needs to be one point person.
Time – This is the date when it will be completed.
Every plan needs actionable milestones. Small steps that make up the whole journey. I find the best way to do this is to break up a project into small weekly goals.
This way I’m not overwhelmed by the whole thing, I can just focus on my one or two weekly tasks.
But when I look back over 3 months, I realize I finished everything!!
Ok so its almost 1 am. My brain is clear and now I can go to sleep!
Thanks,
