My worst project – Lesson 2: Not matching setup to the expectations
Continued from My worst project – Lesson 1: Picking the wrong leaders
Because I delegated setup to Henry, I put myself at the mercy of his “no problem” approach. But the mosquitoes, bad plumbing, and oppressive heat were a problem.
Not telling the youth groups going on the project about the trials they would be facing put my credibility as a leader in jeopardy right off the bat.
Like it or not, the expectations of followers can make it impossible (or easy) for their leader to lead. If people come expecting to be able to sleep at night and then find that hammocks and heat make sleeping difficult, their attitude is likely to suffer.
Understanding this relationship between expectations and attitude, a good leader will work hard at lowering expectations, practicing the mantra, ” under promise, over deliver.” Along those lines, here are four practical suggestions:
- Do the setup yourself: You, the project leader, understand what is important to participants. If the participants on your project are typical high-expectation Americans, then you better take a setup trip and ensure excellence yourself.
- Communicate thoroughly: At AIM, we back up our phone conversations with a typed, on-line log of the conversation. It has saved our bacon when we have to answer to irate church leaders.
- Talk to the right person: Sometimes we give all the right info to the wrong leader – a no-details youth pastor, for example, who isn’t even going on the project when the type A adult sponsor is the one who really needs to know.
- Develop trust: Meet with your participants in advance. Make sure to communicate as many of the details as they’ll need to succeed; lower their expectations and emphasize the importance of prayer in the face of problems.
Click here to read the next blog in the series: My worst project – Lesson 3: Poor planning
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Conveying proper expectations in all things is the challenge, i think, we all often face on a regular basis.
thanks for sharing your hard-learned lessons with us Seth.
Tony – here are my answers:
#2 – we usually type notes of the conversation as we go and polish them up after hanging up.
#3 – Ask questions. “Who is actually leading the trip? What kind of leader are they? Who are the other leaders? Who is the detail person who keeps everyone on track? Anybody with an inordinate need for control?Is there anybody we need to be watching out for? Any advice you have for how to lead your people?
And then give scenarios: “Here is how I intend to lead the project – I’ll have these meetings every day (list them). I’ll expect everyone to be at our concert of prayer time in the morning. If there are discipline issues, I’ll go through the spiritual authority in charge. Here are examples of each of these situations….”
Love #3. How do you do that though? Do you have someone who functions as a recorder on the phone as well? I want to implement this one.
Great Seth!
Thanks Seth! Those practical ideas are very helpful. Appreciate it!
ps – I actually meant to write “Love #2.” But having you elaborate on #3 is great too!