If you’ve ever wondered why you’re struggling to accomplish your priorities, it’s likely because you’re not willing to give your team a pass on something.
Everyone talks about priorities in leadership; intentionally choosing what you want to do well. But there’s a flip side of priorities that rarely gets mentioned: intentionally choosing what you’re going to pass on.
If you’re going to build a church based on relationships, you might have to pass on creating classes on in-depth theology. That’s ok. As long as you’re ok with it.
If you’re going to engage the unchurched, you might have to pass on helping churched people grow deep on Sunday. That’s ok. As long as you’re ok with it.
If you’re going to build a team of volunteers, you might have to pass on consistency week-to-week. That’s ok. As long as you’re ok with it.
If you’re going to reach young families, you might have to pass on reaching their grandparents. That’s ok. As long as you’re ok with it.
If you’re going to establish a healthy staff culture, you might have to pass on building a task-focused team. That’s ok. As long as you’re ok with it.
Every time you set a priority, you inevitably choose to do something else poorly. Many leaders perceive this mindset as settling for less than best. In reality, it is setting you and your team up to perform at your best in the right areas.
Great teams rarely give themselves a pass. When a leader says, “Make it a priority to be great at _______,” the team automatically hears, “…in addition to everything else that seems important.” When setting priorities, leaders must also make very clear what they’re willing to pass on.
Have you ever told your team what you want them to do poorly? Before your next meeting, take 5 minutes to do the following:
- Make a list of the priorities you’ve set for your team.
- Next to each priority, write what you’ll inevitably have to pass on to be successful at it. [Really think through this one.]
- In your next meeting, give your team permission to pass on the right things.
Until you’re willing to give your team a pass on something, you’re never going to become excellent at anything.
