FAQ: How Long Should We Give a Strategy to Work?

October 12, 2012 in Small Group Strategy,Strategic Thinking with 2 Comments

How long should we give a strategy to work?  More to the point, when should we conclude that a strategy will never accomplish what we’ve clarified as a win?  Ever wondered that secretly?  Ever blurted it out in a meeting?

It’s a frequently asked question here at MarkHowellLive.  And to be honest, it doesn’t always actually get asked publicly  but it’s embedded in statements all the time.  Like these:

  • Our senior pastor wants us to fully develop our Sunday morning on-campus strategy before we launch a small group campaign.
  • Our elders are very committed to the midweek believer’s service and see that as a discipleship key.
  • We’ve invested a lot of time and energy in developing a 35 week discipleship pathway.

Can you see the embedded questions?  When I see them, I want to ask a whole string of questions back:

  • How’s it working?
  • How many people are being reached with that strategy?
  • How many people is it realistic to think could be reached with that strategy?
  • How many people are being left out currently?
  • What numbers give us the most accurate snapshot of how the strategy is working? (i.e., average weekend adult attendance or Easter adult attendance?)
  • How long will the people we’re not reaching or including wait for us to provide a strategy that includes them?
  • How much effort and energy is being invested in that strategy and is that keeping you from launching an alternative or competing concept?
  • What would have to be true about that strategy for it to be a great solution?
  • Do the results you’re getting indicate that the design is correct?
  • If you knew the master was returning soon, would you stick with your strategy one more year?

I’ve written on this topic a number of times:

What do you think?  Have a question?  Want to argue? You can click here to jump into the conversation.

  • BrandonBaker

    Painfully true. Our borrowed strategy has been to create a “come and see” Sunday morning environment like Andy Stanley. We are heading into decline and it is not the previous effort and invested resources that keep us from changing course. I think it’s the embarassment of admitting we were wrong when we have a reputation for telling other churches how its done.

  • markchowell

    Thanks for jumping in here, Brandon. Acknowledging the real story of your “present” (see Thursday’s post) is the first step on the way to the preferred future. Keep me posted on what happens next!

    mark

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