I've been working with my student interns on understanding the dynamics of a movement from an executive perspective.
The main distinction being to think and make decision in light of the whole rather than a part of the movement.
We have used this diagram as a means to talk specifically about how to evaluate the movement and develop people in a way that expands our student and staff leader base.
It seems often in ministry when someone is selected for leadership and someone is not, it instantly creates tension/gossip over why that person was selected, especially if they are not perfect (which so far is 100%).
Adding the piece of the diagram that connects the narrowing funnel with the degree to which people are able to integrate the mission, vision, and values into their life proved extremely helpful for a few reasons:
- It helped our interns understand why a person who "gets it" intellectually but has yet to demonstrate it in their life does not move down the funnel as quickly as someone who is living it out. Sometimes "potentially great" students can get in the way of selecting students who are ready right now to live out the mission, vision, and values.
- It allows for those students who catch the vision later on in their college career. A common complaint about student leadership groups in CCC is that "you have to jump through specific hoops (summer project, evangelism, etc)" in order to be a leader. If a person has not jumped through specific hoops but does catch the vision and is willing to live them out, then there is room for them to participate in leadership.
- It protects from selecting charismatic (personality, not denomination) people who have outstanding social skills or even spiritual aptitude but use those things for their own glory. Unless they are willing to progressively integrate the mission, vision, and values, they do not move down the funnel.
