Pastors can overestimate how much can be accomplished in one year and underestimate how much can be accomplished in a five years. Meaning, we try to do too much too quickly. Quality of activity is more important than quantity of activity. Pastors have a tendency to err on the side of feeling that activity justifies our existence. We also tend to think there is a change that is the “quick fix” for all that we feel needs to be addressed in our church.
I am an admitted list maker, task-oriented kind of person. The helpful part of this temperament is that I am organized and can multi-task. The danger part of this temperament is that I can get easily distracted by an activity or task that is not on my list. For much of my ministry as a pastor, this has been my achilles heel. I had the discernment to understand what changes I would like to see made in the church & her ministry, but I have not always had the wisdom to know how to lead well in these areas. The result tended to be that I had good ideas (maybe), but very poor pastoral leadership execution. I tried to go too far too fast. It didn’t work.
I would make my task list. I would then think of something else, hear of another idea, get bored with my first idea, forget to celebrate the accomplished tasks, forget to thank the people who helped get things done, etc, etc. This was not healthy for anyone. I learned the hard way. I owe an apology to the churches I pastored in those years.
I am still wired to be a list-making, task-oriented kind of guy. I own it. But, I am understanding better how to walk it out in a way that is healthier for me and the people I am serving. I still make lists, but I have developed better boundaries to stay focused, on task and lead better.
Rather than a five year plan that I am trying to accomplish in the next six to twelve months, I think more in terms of a one year plan that I accomplish in 100 day increments. I do goal planning for each ministry year in the areas of personal development, ministry development and team member development (SMART goals). I then assign due dates for each task so I can easily group the tasks by months and quarters (100 days) over the next year. I make my 100 day task list from these goals. I then make my weekly task lists to help accomplish the current 100 days I am leading through. If I think of something during that 100 days that is not on the list, I do not put it on the list. I put in on a long term planning/ideas list. Sometimes these ideas will become part of a 100 days focus. Many times, though, with a little time to pray and think it through, I am able to discern that these ideas are not helpful and I remove them from any further consideration.
This 100 days strategy allows me, a task-oriented pastor, to plan ahead, make my lists, avoid unfruitful distractions, stay on task, lead well and more healthily get from A to B rather than trying to go from A to Z all in one step. This one adjustment has made a significant difference in my health as a pastor.
Keep planning ahead. Keep dreaming. Just be realistic and responsible with what actually needs to be done for the next 100 days.
MichaelStovall 