From Sampler to Sower

OK, so maybe he’s not talking specifically about youth ministry, but I think there might be some applications we can draw.

Yesterday, Tim Sanders, author, speaker and former Chief Solutions Officer for Yahoo!, published a post on his blog entitled The Recovery is On!  In it he summarizes a speech he delivered recently to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s CEO Forum.  During that speech he gave advice to business leaders about how to lead their companies out of the recession, based on research on what made the difference between successful and average companies coming out of previous recessions.

Granted, it’s not your typical youth ministry blog fare, but I strongly suggest you head on over and check it out.

I couldn’t help but wonder what applications his advice has for churches in general and youth ministry in particular.

Sanders cites an Accenture Study which showed successful companies in the 1990-1991 recession were successful because they continued to invest in their value-creation engines even in the midst of a recession that saw other companies cutting costs wherever possible.

Of course it’s easy to tell what the value-creation engine is for a for-profit business.  But what creates the value your youth ministry has to offer your community?  Are you investing in what makes a difference in people’s lives?

Perhaps the closest for-profit category would probably be businesses whose value lies in customer service.  And what does Sanders suggest the customer service centered business?  Investment in talent retention.  How are you investing in your leadership and volunteers?

What’s more, Sanders suggests along with investment, a second key to rising from the ashes of recession is having business confidence.  Even though we find ourselves in difficult times which leave many shaken, the key to success if confidence, “not” as Sanders puts it, “at a macro-economic level (like the stock market), but at a leadership level.  We must create cultures that have some risk tolerance, some generosity and some boldness.”

How is your church creating a culture that has risk tolerance?  How is your church demonstrating generosity?  Are you willing to boldly lead?

Perhaps most helpful though were Sanders three bullet take-aways:

Support the recovery through generosity.  Give your employees some time off, non-financial perks or recognition.  Pay your vendors/suppliers full price and refer them new business.  Join non-profits in helping your struggling communities.  These action not only position you as being “a good company” in a world of sinners, they will push your culture towards thinking recovery.

Feed your mind good stuff (see previous post).

Change the conversation from lack to abundance.  Lead with the encouraging news and approach business problems as a solution provider and not a victim.

There’s some great advice here for church leaders as well as business leaders.

Is your church, dependent on the generosity of your congregation, leading the way in generosity?

Is your mind focused on good stuff?  (This is especially important in light of the fact that we are ambassadors for the best news of all.)

Are you presenting your vision and needs to the church in terms of abundance and opportunity, or in terms of lack?

SandersSays might not be in your leadership blogroll just yet, but it should be.  And this post on the difference between being a Phoenix and fodder should be one of the first you read.

And while you’re at it check out his book The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life’s Dreams.

(And in keeping with my best understanding of the new FTC rules, I should point out that while I’ve received nothing but great advice from Tim’s blog in exchange for this recommendation, I am an Amazon affiliate, and might make a commission from Amazon if you buy the book.)