Ministry Management
Managing Empowerment
(By Jim
Harper)
"Micromanagement is
out …Empowerment is in."
Jim Harper
To Empower is to: "Enable, increase
in strength, be make strong."
Empowerment is a new buzzword in the corporate
world. It is nothing new in the Christian world though. Jesus
is a great example of empowering his disciples. He trained
them, was a living example to them and there came a time when
they were running the whole organization. As you empower your
staff and congregation here is a basic rule to follow: You
pray and hear from God as to WHAT to do and WHY and allow
your people to do the WHEN and HOW. An important fact to remember
though is that the more your people are involved in the planning
and creative thinking, the more their hearts will be in it.
This is your leadership multiplication program.
Empowering your staff:
- Progressively give them bigger assignments
and more authority to make decisions.
- Allow them to take ownership of the problem
and the solution.
- Start with giving them responsibility for
more of the details even if they are not fully ready. They
will develop skills as you oversee them.
- Provide help only when they need it without
always looking over their shoulder.
- As you help them, give them ideas and information
but allow them to find the solutions.
- Provide them with the tools and resources
they need.
- Allow them to find the best way to accomplish
the task (be a reasonable risk taker).
- Allow them to do their own scheduling.
- Have a good report or inspection system in
place. This is a must to have high efficiency and motivation.
- Give praise when it is warranted and establish
a good reward system.
- When possible push decisions down to the lowest
possible level.
- Encourage them as you empower them and let
them know you truth them.
- Train your people continuously.
Benefits of Empowerment:
- Frees your time up to focus on more important
issues and creative thinking.
- Reduce the "Co-dependant" factor
between you and your people.
- Trust, loyalty and self-worth will soar.
- Builds a team spirit and they will be more
concerned for the growth of the church and not only their
department.
- They will grasp the BIG picture of the church
vision.
- Skills will improve in multiple areas.
- It reduces the fear element and promotes
open and problem solving thinking.
- Creates an environment of taking responsibility
and having commitment.
A good example of NOT empowering the people was
the Soviet system in the Former USSR. The leadership style
was "positional leadership" which says "I am
the boss and you do what I say" verses the "servant
leadership" style that Jesus used. During Soviet times
people had no rights and where told what to do in every area
of their lives. As a result the people had no motivation and
no creativity. This style of leadership also created a huge
system of beocrocy, which is having too many levels of authority.
What can you do to reduce stagnation and becrocy in your church?
Who can you empower today? Change is not always easy but if
you have not empowered your people yet it will be worth it
and the time is now!
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who EMPOWERS
me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through
Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient
in Christ's sufficiency.]"
Philippians 4.13 (The Amplified Bible)
By:
Jim Harper
Missionary/Itinerate Minister
Founder of "Radical Church Growth"
Email:
jhm-acc@cfaith.com
Web site:
www.jimharper.org
U.S. Address:
Jim Harper Ministries
303 East 2nd Street #1032
Skiatook, OK 74070 U.S. phone: (619) 757 9453
We pray that these "Ministry
Management Tips" have been a blessing to you and will
help you grow your church or ministry. You may forward these
to anyone who may benefit from them.
Your feedback and comments
are welcomed. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
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