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Ministry Thinkhole #2: The Competency Trap

Orginally published on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:08 PM
by Todd Rhoades

Last week, we began a series on "Ministry Thinkholes." In his new book, Church Unique, consultant Will Mancini discusses what he calls thinkholes that can really bog down today's church leader. Mancini describes thinkholes as obstacles, barriers, and danger zones that keep us from thoughtful self-knowledge. The first thinkhole we looked at last week was the problem of ‘Ministry Treadmills’, the idea that being so busy with our next event or ministry demand can actually paralyze us from taking the time needed to lead our churches into the future. This week, we'll look at the second thinkhole that Mancini mentions: the "Competency Trap".

Will suggests that as ministry leaders experience success over time, that very success can become a liability. He writes, “The competency trap is easy to identify in two scenarios. The first is when a leader transitions to a new church. He or she naturally brings along the ministry patterns and programs that previously defined success. But what the leader can’t bring along is the other church’s culture. Because it is easier to duplicate familiar programs and to incarnate new ones, the leader overlooks the DNA discovery process. The second scenario occurs when an experienced leader is navigating a major transition, such as relocation or bringing on new staff. Often the leader races faster around the familiar pathways of yesterday rather than discovering new pathways of effectiveness. This “dig in your heels” approach turns leaders in the talkers instead of listeners. Presumption prevents the breakthrough to self-knowledge that would otherwise open the door to new levels of leadership.”

Here’s today’s question: have your quality leadership skills or your knowledge of how to do things ever caused you to fall into the “competency trap?”. Have you ever made leadership decisions without fully considering your church’s DNA? Or, have you ever made leadership decisions, only because you’re past experiences make you want to decide quickly?

The “competency trap” is it something that every season, the leader needs to watch out for. Take some time this morning to think of how your leadership competency could actually cause you to fall into this “thinkhole”.

Have a great week,

Todd.

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There are 5 Comments:

Posted by

Monday, April 14, 2008 at 12:01 AM

I think we did this in our first ministry outside of our seminary / college experience. A lot of our friends did the same. We came from a very “successful” large church ministry and went into a church with a very different culture.

We did see fruit there, in many decisions for Christ made. But we also crashed and burned big time. I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. It was a good lesson and we are better in ministry for it.
Posted by Andy Wood

Monday, April 14, 2008 at 12:03 AM

A few weeks ago my associate and partner in ministry and I reached a point where we were either going to fire ourselves or repent. Fortunately, we chose to turn some things around. In the course of the conversation, I said to him that I didn’t have any confidence that I could do anything right. He said that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that I was good (competend) at too many things, and that I needed to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up.

We took a hard look at some things, starting with how I had allowed myself to drift into “familiar” patterns and rhythms of ministry, putting it all on somethign of an autopilot - simply because of how impossibly busy I had become. Our people needed - and God is worthy of - better.

In simply and consistently praying with the realization that our “competence” had gotten us in the mess we were in, we have seen a DRAMATIC turnaround in three weeks.

Here is what I wrote about it then:

http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2008/03/26/activate-the-mechanism/

Thanks for a great post.
Posted by Peter Hamm

Monday, April 14, 2008 at 6:50 AM

[The first is when a leader transitions to a new church. He or she naturally brings along the ministry patterns and programs that previously defined success.] When I came to this church I very intentionally avoided making that mistake. Some people might have been a little impatient with me for it, but nobody every complained.

I am really good at setting up my own minefield, don’t get me wrong, but in this case I managed to avoid it. I adopted patterns and programs that already existed, and many things that I thought should change immediately… I waited months or even YEARS to change. It has paid off.

Also, I make VERY few decisions on my own. I involve the lay leadership around me.
Posted by

Monday, April 14, 2008 at 8:43 AM

Have your quality leadership skills or your knowledge of how to do things ever caused you to fall into the “competency trap?”

YES!

Have you ever made leadership decisions without fully considering your church’s DNA?

YES

Or, have you ever made leadership decisions, only because you’re past experiences make you want to decide quickly?

YES

Is it possible to avoid the competency trap until we have at least once succumbed to it and had to learn the hard lesson?

Wendi
Posted by Peter Hamm

Monday, April 14, 2008 at 8:48 AM

Or if we’re lucky, Wendi, we get to watch others make those mistakes.

Not lucky for them, but truly it is for us…

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