Being the Bad Guy!

There is nothing more difficult than having to correct the actions of those that serve on your team. This is especially true when you are dealing with Ministry volunteers and staff. There is a component that separates a situation like this from anything similar in the business world. Let’s bring this subject that is an essential component of being accountable to light in our post today….

People that work in Ministry are for the most part, people that have good intentions. They have sacrificed to be in position to help serve, but the sacrifice alone does not make them good for the Ministry. One of the hardest things I have to do in my role is to tell a volunteer that they need to volunteer somewhere else. It’s not a fun conversation, but in 90% of the cases where this happens, the volunteer will come back later on and say thank you for telling me what many are too afraid to say.

The truth is that no one wants to hurt the Ministry that they have joined, and in some cases the volunteer just doesn’t have the skills necessary to do the job. That is not a personal slap at the volunteer, just a fact of trying to execute the operation of the Ministry and optimize the gifts that God has provided. God has given us all unique skills and it is our duty to do the very best we can with these gifts.

The other challenge is sticking to the plan and strategies. Many in Ministry don’t want to have a plan, they use what I like to refer to as the “Feel Good” strategy. What ever feels good is what we do….wrong! Talk about a mess waiting to happen. I appreciate the good intentions, but if you don’t stick to a plan, be accountable and transparent, why would anyone want to invest their time and resources with you. Everyone wants a good return on their investment!

It’s not fun being the Bad Guy, but it is a very important role that every member of Leadership must face. You have to be willing to have the tough conversations, because in the end, its not about you….it’s about those we serve! Being the Bad Guy is not about being a bad person, but being a person willing to do what is in the best interest of the Ministry, not yourself. Those that master this are the ones that make the biggest impact on the Kingdom! Be strong, stay focused, and when necessary be the bad guy!