I don’t believe that I am different from any other person. We all desire to move forward. Personally and professionally we want to see positive progress being made in our lives. I can admit that I can spend a good bit of time contemplating whether or not I am progressing at the pace and in the direction that I desire. As I have opportunity to talk with other pastors, ministry leaders, and just people in general I find that I am not alone.
Earlier this year I found that I was spending more time lamenting a perceived lack of progress than seeking the answers that would allow me to see the progress I desired. Maybe you’ve had a similar conversation with yourself; “how am I doing as a spouse or parent” or “why isn’t the ministry that I lead growing into the vision that I’ve seen?” I was fortunate enough to have some folk who were able to give me some insight regarding things that I was unable to see. This made me think about how we, as leaders, approach life in general and particularly how we approach making progress. That led me to three things that each of us can do to ensure that we are consistently progressing toward the goals that we desire. Each of us should engage in the following activities: review, reconfigure, and reengage.
Take Time to Review What’s Happened
The whole process begins with review. Each of us should take intentional time to analyze our past successes and failures. This assessment should happen at regularly scheduled intervals. I’ve actually begun the habit of daily examen, reflecting upon the events of each day prior to calling in a night. As a part of this reflection, I express my gratitude to God for the day, but I also ponder what could have occurred differently. Where did I succeed? Where did I fall short? What might I do differently? What worked to the point that I want to ensure that I continue to do it?
This is the kind of review that would also occur at the end of a project, prior to birthdays, month’s end, or other intervals that make reflection easy. The point is that we should allow our past to coach us in the present so that we can ensure a better future. In order to make this review a better coach for the future, it is important that the assessment is honest. For me, I knew that I couldn’t play mental games or place blame for falling short of my goals on others. It is important to tell yourself the hard truth. I sat down and wrote out the various routines that were involved in the different areas of my life. I’ve got to admit that it took a bit of time, but this kind of review definitely bears fruit.
Don’t Be Afraid to Change Things
I found that review, as difficult as the honesty it contains may be, can actually be easier to accomplish for some that the next step; to reconfigure. Reconfiguring things can be difficult because it involves change. While its easy to identify the things that may be impeding our progress it isn’t always easy to make the needed changes. Sometimes the issue is the other people that the change may affect. We get bogged down in wondering what they may think or how the change will affect them. My advice is to not dwell on that too long. If the review revealed areas that need to be changed in order to achieve important goals, then make the change! I wrote an article on the importance of making difficult decisions quickly. You can read it here.
Now Get Back to Work
Once I had reviewed the past and reconfigured the way things would be done, it was time to reengage the work. Be careful that you don’t get caught up in the never-ending cycle of review and change. The whole point of the review and the reconfiguration is to the reengage the work. We must always remember that the work isn’t the end, but the means to the end that we desire. No one really cares how elaborate our review process or how detailed our reconfigured plans. The only thing that ultimately matters is did we reach our personal, professional, or organizational goals. So be sure to spend the needed amount of time review and reconfiguring, but as soon as you have concluded what adjustments are needed get back to work. Its the work that moves us towards our goals.
Your Turn
I have seen sustained progress towards my goals since I have intentionally begun to implement the pattern of the 3 Rs into the various parts of my life. I’m definitely not saying that I have arrived, but I have a process that works to ensure that I am always advancing towards my goals. What goals? My goals are the things that we all seek at one level or another. I desire to be healthier physically, mentally, and spiritually. I desire to be a better husband and father. I desire to be a better servant leader as a pastoral leader.
What goals are you running towards? How are you determining whether you are advancing towards them consistently? What process are you using to make the needed tweaks? I encourage you to give the 3 Rs of review, reconfigure, and reengage a try. Live one life.