Ep 024: People Matter: A Conversation About What Really Counts in Ministry

Welcome to Episode 24 of the Joshua Gagnon Leadership Podcast!Congratulations to username Mcfpastorryan for being the winner of this week’s book giveaway! Please send an email to info@joshuagagnon.com with your contact information and an address we can ship “God Dreams” by Will Mancini and Warren Bird. For the rest of our listeners, please make sure you leave a review of the podcast! Our next book giveaway is “War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick and the Art of Building a Perfect Team” by Michael Holley - a perfect book for any football fans out there! In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl, we will be releasing a special bonus episode on the podcast featuring New England Patriots linebacker, Jerod Mayo. Be on the lookout for this special episode on February 3.Today’s conversation was prompted by a talk Pastor Josh gave the staff of Next Level Church after witnessing time after time prioritizing tasks over people, along with some breakdowns in communication. In this episode, you will hear Pastor Josh explain several reasons why we don’t prioritize people as well as some important principles of communication. 3 Takeaways For Leaders:1. One of the reasons we don’t prioritize people is because the task that needs to get done is more important than the individuals getting the task done. Pastor Josh noticed this reality among the NLC staff and that often times we value the task more than the people getting the tasks done. The focus becomes the task rather than the person. Don’t make the mistake of seeing people as the tool in which we get ministry done, but rather, see them as the treasure in which we get ministry done. 2. Another reason we don’t prioritize people is the speed at which we’re we’re leading is faster than our ability to communicate change. Pastor Josh admits that when he started NLC, he led so often at this fast pace of trying to get the big vision across, but he learned that he wasn’t equipped with the ability to lead at that pace. Since then he has slowed down in his decision making and leadership role and has learned to lead in the moment rather than live in the future.3. When it comes to prioritizing people, we must learn to communicate better. Pastor Josh hits on several points for better communication: 1) Never assume anything, 2) Ask layers of questions, 3) Invite people into being part of situation, 4) Listen, 5) Put yourself in their shoes, and 6) Over-communicate.Quotes From This Episode:"The larger an organization gets, the temptation is to forget that each person still should matter as much as they ever did when you didn’t have such a large organization.""People matter at every size.""Until we understand or recognize that every person serving under you and alongside of you matters, we’re going to fail at this thing called ministry.""One of the reasons we don’t prioritize people is because the task that needs to get done is more important than the individuals getting the task done.""You don’t lead the moment by living in the future, you have to slow down and lead the moment.""When it comes to leadership, more people do damage through assumption than anything else.""The greatest answers ever given simply come from the greatest questions ever asked.""Leaders should be great question-askers and not just great answer-givers.""Insecure leaders barely ask questions; secure leaders love asking questions because they’re empowering people to find answers.""Communication is never strong verbally outside of you being strong listening.""Too many leaders are so busy talking, they have no idea what they should be saying.""Communicate with your mouth, listen with their ears.""Without great communication, you will never lead or be a part of a great church or organization."Follow Pastor Josh on Twitter at @joshgagnon!