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Effective Problem Solving for Pastors

Orginally published on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 at 7:43 AM
by Todd Rhoades

A pastor's day is filled with problems, and they are usually other people's problems. Your main duty during the day seems to be problem solver. How can you do this and remove yourself from being the answer person? The following are steps to help you be a facilitator of solutions and not be "the problem solver"...

1. Be a facilitator. Ask questions that will encourage your congregation to come up with the answers themselves. It takes the pressure off of you to be responsible for everyone’s problem.

2. Get to the root of the problem. When faced with a problem, people tend to react and use blocks to prevent them from getting to the root of the problem. ("We can’t”, “we’ve always done it that way”, and “they will not listen “ are some blocks a minister may hear) Dig beneath the surface and ask why. A possible scenario:

“We can’t”

“Why?

“Well, we can’t because we don’t have x”,

“Why don’t we? In what ways does that hinder us?”

Keep digging with why questions.

3. Stick to the facts. People start to assume when they have problems. This prevents solutions. Teach them to sort through their assumptions and stick to the facts, which ultimately is the truth.

4. Identify alternative solutions. Brainstorm and collect as many solutions to the problem, even if they sound crazy or of-the-wall. Leave judgement and criticism out of this process. Engage everyone in the process.

5. Advance the process from a neutral standpoint. Often, people have the tendency to want to do what you want and look for which way you may be leaning to solve a problem. Be neutral - ask them to provide their input.

6. Assess the solutions from a neutral standpoint. For each possible idea ask: In what ways does this solution match our vision? Mission? Values? What personal, legal or financial risks would be involved with this solution? What is the cost/benefit? In what ways will this idea solve the problem? What is the worst that would happen if we implemented this solution?

7. Based on the answers, select the best option that would solve the problem. Encourage your people to visualize how the problem would look with the solution they have selected.

8. Implement the solution. Identify roles and responsibilities - who is to do what by when. Measure the results through positive and negative feedback.

About the Author
Jan Hinton is the founder of ePastorNetwork.com The Internet’s First Membership Website for Pastors ePN Provides Leadership, Fellowship & Support for Christian Ministers http://www.ePastorNetwork.com

FOR DISCUSSION: What do you think? Is this a helpful process for effective problem solving?

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TRACKBACKS: (0) There are 4 Comments:

Posted by

Tuesday, October 03, 2006 at 6:37 PM

FIRST question (I can’t remember who said this at the summit three years ago… help me out someone...)

Identify whether or not this problem is even your problem! Sometimes it isn’t…
Posted by Linda

Tuesday, October 03, 2006 at 7:29 PM

That’s good Peter” Identify whether or not this problem is even your problem! Sometimes it isn’t…”

For years I worked in our church office and fielded many calls from troubled people. My first question was always, “Are you in a small group?” That’s how we pastor a large church. Of course I always try to pray with a person as soon as possible. I learned that after spending hours on the phone with people going over the same thing. I have a five-minute rule now. I’ll listen up to that time and then we must pray. I always assume we need God’s help!

Also, if you’re a pastor you should never do marriage counseling. I’ve seen several senior pastors loose their very good friends because they got involved in domestic disputes.

Just some thoughts
Posted by

Tuesday, October 03, 2006 at 11:02 PM

Peter - was it maybe Steven Sample (@ the Summit 2004), the USC guy, in his interview with Bill Hybels? I’m thinking back on his book “A Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership” (a great read BTW) and recall several times when he addressed solving problems.

Perhaps the best chapter was “Know Which Hill You are Willing to Die On”. Not sure it has much to do with problem solving, but one quote from the book which I underlined and starred was:

“It’s fine to reveal, or even trumpet, your core values, but be careful about telling the world the exact location of the hill you’re willing to die on”

I think I marked up that quote in the book so much because I was at the moment taking some hits for going public on an issue which I was calling a deal breaker. Sample suggests that there are (should be) very few hills. This makes #4 important. Often the solution to the problem seems to be completely different (and obvious) to different players on the team. I can’t entertain different solutions if I think my solution constitutes a hill I will die on. So we should choose our hills carefully in order to solve problems with others who also have closely held values, if not “deal breakers” in the mix.

Wendi
Posted by kent

Wednesday, October 04, 2006 at 6:50 PM

Steve Sample is the one.

I read this and sort of signed, another subscription service.

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