I’m still processing Catalyst. One of the dangers with conferences is that you get lots of information but it doesn’t result in transformation unless you actually implement something. So you can walk away from a conference feeling less effective because you’ve eaten from the tree of knowledge but haven’t done anything with it.

One of the sessions that was most practical and most helpful to me was Patrick Lencioni. Because I’m a Lead Pastor it hit a nerve ending because I feel a profound responsibility for the team I lead. And I don’t always feel like I do a great job. Some things come easily and naturally. We have a ton of fun together. And I think we’ve got a great culture. But we’re much better at creativity than organization.

Lencioni offered three important reminders. Job misery is the byproduct of three things: anonymity, immeasurment, and irrelevance.

Anonymity is feeling like your boss doesn’t know you and doesn’t care. We all have the need to be known. Lencioni said that those of us in leadership need to see ourselves as life coaches to the people who work with us. I love that perspective!

Immeasurement is not knowing how you’re doing. Lencioni said we all need to know that we’re doing a good job. I think this is tough in the local church context. But we’ve got to find ways to give feedback and evaluate.

And Irrelevence is the need to know that what we do matters! I think this is where we have a distinct advantage in ministry, but it is the job of the leader to make sure that people don’t get so engrossed in what they are doing that they forget why they are doing it. Leaders are always connecting the dots between what and why! We need to let people know that they are making an eternal difference!