Are You Working on the Right Things (to build a thriving small group ministry)?
A short and simple question: Are you working on the right things (to build a thriving small group ministry)?
I've been reading a great book. 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals by Chris McChesney. A fantastic book. I highly recommend it.
The thing is, McChesney does a very good job of explaining that the key to achieving your wildly important goals (i.e., 100% or more of your average adult weekend worship attendance in groups, a span-of-care of one coach for every 5 small group leaders, etc.), is not the goal itself.
The WIG (wildly important goal) is what economists refer to as a "lag" measure. "A lag measure is the measurement of a result you are trying to achieve. We call them lag measures because by the time you get the data the result has already happened."
Think about it. If your goal is to connect 100% or more of your average weekend adult attendance in groups, reaching your goal is awesome. But it doesn't tell you until too late whether you are focusing on the right things.
"'Lead' measures, on the other hand, are different: they foretell the result. They have two primary characteristics. First, a lead measure is predictive, meaning that if the lead measure changes, you can predict that the lag measure also will change. Second, a lead measure is influenceable; it can be directly influenced by the team (p. 46-47)."
So think about what a lead measure or two might be for your wildly important goal. Let's say your goal is to connect 100% of your average adult weekend attendance in groups.
Here's how to identify the right lead measures:
The key is to identify the right lead measures. Get the right lead measures and you'll be on your way to arriving at your preferred future.
Here are two very important clues:
First, the right lead measure will be predictive. That means, if these things happen, you'll make your lag goal.
Predictive: What do you think might be a lead measure or two that would be predictive (that is, if you achieve the lead measure the lag number will also change)?
What's an example? One might be having 5 coffees a week with existing coaches or prospective coaches. If you meet with your coaches on a regular basis and do the right things TO, FOR and WITH them, you can be sure they'll begin doing the right things TO, FOR and WITH their members (and that will help the group thrive).
Second, the right lead measure will be influenceable. That is, you will be able to do something about it and your actions will move the needle.
What's an example? Having 5 coffees a week with existing coaches or prospective coaches is both predictive and influenceable.
Influenceable: What would be a lead measure or two that would be influenceable (that is, the actions of your team can influence the outcome)?
The concept of lead measures and lag measures might seem like a stretch for a small group pastor to be concerned with, but in my experience one of the most important issues holding back small group ministries is spending precious time on the wrong things.
The concept of lead measures and lag measures might seem like a stretch for a small group pastor to be concerned with, but in my experience one of the most important issues holding back small group ministries is spending precious time… Click To Tweet
Trust me, if you identify the right lead measures you will hit your lag goals much more often!
Need help?
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