Ep 074: The Field and the Forest

Welcome to Episode 74 of the Joshua Gagnon Leadership Podcast!If you enjoy listening to this podcast and it has helped you and your team in any way, please leave us a review on Apple Podcast or Stitcher or take the time to share it on social media.Do you have a question for Pastor Josh about leadership, ministry, or any other topic we’ve covered on the podcast so far? Submit your questions to info@joshuagagnon.com or @joshgagnon on Twitter and Pastor Josh might answer it on a future episode!Today we will be talking about seasons in ministry; the field and the forest, the highs and lows, the difference between your organization being a speedboat vs. the Titanic.Takeaways for leaders…After you have established your organization, it moves from running through a field to running through a forest. Being a leader in ministry, or any organization, gets more complex as you progress. The field: running at a fast pace with high urgency and few obstacles and little to lose: frequently the early stages of an organization. The forest: running at a slower pace with high urgency and more complex and calculated decisions.How to manage tension between the field and the forest: Let your organization be a speedboat rather than becoming the titanic. In any season, be quick and agile, not fat and sluggish. Use caution and time in your decision making. When you make the wrong decision with dozens of staff, it’s a lot harder to regain momentum. Balance urgency and caution in your decision making. It is better to take longer in making a decision and make the right one, then make a hasty decision and lose momentum. Understand that there are highs and lows in ministry. Quotes from this episode... “Live in the reality of faithfulness.” -Joshua Gagnon“Faithful people live in an even keel of understanding that everything surrounds faithfulness.” -Joshua Gagnon“As you mature as a leader, you start mature and learn how to pace yourself for longevity.” -Joshua Gagnon “Working hard does not always bring you somewhere.” -Joshua Gagnon“Just because you’re working hard doesn’t mean you’re working towards something.” -Joshua Gagnon“Leadership is about stewarding energy and maximizing potential.” -Joshua Gagnon