Take up photography or baking. Try to do a home repair—with just the help of the guy at the hardware store. If you’ve never done it—all the better. The more different from you it seems—the greater the stretch.
5. Spend more time on opportunities than on problems. This is huge, because problems tend to weigh us down and discourage us. Opportunities challenge and encourage us. Yes, fixing problems is exhilarating for some of us (like me), but only getting back to ground zero pales compared to finding new potential for growth.
We can’t avoid handling problems, but we can discipline ourselves to focus more energy toward advancement than repair. Try it. In my experience, when I do this, some of the problems I thought needed so much of my attention no longer do.
6. Schedule and discipline time to dream. Dreaming can quickly become a lost art in a sea of mediocrity and repetition. We get so caught up in systems, routines and processes that we fail to imagine what is yet to be realized. I try to schedule a few hours a week of blank calendar time and shut everything down to think and pray. Sometimes I take a walk. Sometimes I read. Always I try to think of something new.
7. Stay physically active. Numerous studies I’ve read indicate what my experience already knows. I stretch my mind when I stretch my body. And the more I stretch my body, the more I stretch my mind.
I realize an obvious question some of my ministry friends are wondering. How does this apply to the church?
Well, I personally believe the church should be well-led, well-managed, efficient and productive. We have the greatest mission challenge ever extended. We are in a life-changing profession. Why would we ever sacrifice quality or settle for less than best in carrying out our work? So of course this impacts ministry. We must continue to stretch ourselves to become better servant-leaders.
What ideas do you have to stretch yourself as a leader?
