Plotting Our Destination
I love maps. Now I think you are old enough to remember a time when Google maps didn’t exist. I can still remember every year begging my mom to buy the latest Rand McNally road atlas. I would spend hours looking at the maps of the places I have been but, also of places that I wanted to visit. I would plan how I would get from my home in Salix, PA to the various historical places or cities I wanted visit. I can also remember on some long trips that we took; we would go to AAA and have them print directions from our home to our destination. One thing that I couldn’t do either at home with an atlas or at AAA was not have a destination. I had to have a destination to take a trip. It is the same with growing as a leader. I need to know where I am going in order to get there. Where do you want go as a leader? What is your plan for growth? If you don’t have one, let me give you some steps to develop one.
What are you gifted at or enjoy? John Maxwell points out, “As you plan your growth, it will benefit you greatly to be focused. Focus on growing in your areas of greatest strengths, not your weaknesses. And grow in the areas that will add value to you personally and professionally.”[1] We have talked about your strengths, now the question is, “how are you going to grow them?” Did you realize that if you spend one hour a day on the same subject for five years you will be an expert in that subject? Become an expert on something that you are good at and enjoy. It will help you both professionally and personally. One of the things I love about my job at Arlington is that it allows me to hone in on those things that I am good at and enjoy. I can be less of a generalist and more of a specialist. I can continue to develop those strengths that I have been given. What are you good at or enjoy?
Where do you see yourself in the future? While I totally believe in God’s leading and that sometimes He has things in store for you that you would never imagine (just ask me about coming to Texas), I also believe that God puts on your heart some long term goals. I have not made it a secret that one of my goals as a leader is to work as a ministerial director in a local conference. So to that end, I am concentrating on how to mentor other leaders, how to be an effective administrator and how to navigate conflict. I am also aware of opportunities and experiences that I have been given to hone those skills (committees, speaking appointments, etc.). While some may construe my “planning” for the future as presumptuous and not trusting God’s leading, I believe that God is leading by giving me certain strengths, talents and opportunities.
Once we decide on those areas we are good at and have an idea of what we want to do in the future as a leader, next thing to do is to plot that journey. What are you going to do every day to reach your destination? You see if you do something every day, read 15 pages, or listen to a podcast or spend time with other leaders, you will soon make great progress. Next time we will talk about those specific areas where we can set goals to reach our destination.
[1] Today Matters, 286