What Feeds Your Failure

Courtesy of Charles Williams/Creative Commons License

No one likes failure.  I hate the feeling it gives you.  It takes away your self worth and confidence.  However, failure can also help you grow as a leader.  The times when I have:

• Forgotten about a meeting with a teen
• Lost permission forms for a camp
• Had a teen puke because of a game
• Almost took out a student’s eye with a pen
• Lost $3200 on a fundraiser

I’ve found myself developing systems and structures that have allowed me to run a better ministry.  It’s through failure that I’ve learned humility and trust.  While failure can be very positive in a leader’s life if you don’t address what feeds it, it will eventually eat you alive.  Some of those fuels to failure are:

• Fear Of Rejection: One of the hardest realities to face as a leader is not everyone is going to agree or like you.  Once you allow that fear to take over you’ll find yourself compromising the vision and mission of the ministry.  That means missed opportunities and holding on to people and events that will eat away at your programs.  The best way to move past this fear is to lean into it.
  

• Lack Of Patience: Firefighters never rush into a burning building.  In fact they take the time to analyze the situation, create a plan and then execute it.  Analyze the situation, be persistent and above all trust that God is working through you.  When you force things to happen you can make easily avoidable mistakes.  Look at developing a plan before engaging on a project.

• Inability To Organize:  Ministry is relational; therefore, it is extremely messy.  Schedules, budgets, systems and structures help you streamline your efforts and avoid easy mistakes.  These tools and habits act as safeguards that prevent you from messing up before you even begin.

• Pride: Just because you are a leader doesn’t mean you should and can do everything on your own.  Build a team of accountability that will give you feedback and truth.  Delegate responsibilities so that you aren’t overextending yourself.  God has gifted you; however, he has commissioned you to work as a church.

If failure is going to happen in your ministry it’s because you are trying to take it to new heights.  It’s because God wants you to make your church a movement.  To understand what those actions steps are you need to constantly LEAN ON GOD and TRUST OTHERS.  A good leader isn’t afraid to fail; however, he is also good at recognizing what makes it a habit.

What else fuels failure?  How do you avoid them?