Meridian Magazine : : Print

Do you remember the SMART goals we discussed in an earlier part? Your leadership goals must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. And to make the journey from good idea to great performance, your people expect to have a reliable “travel guide.”

As you lead your people down the road of Christian service, here are six things you can do to help them march with confidence.

1—Validate the Journey. Even though Latter-day Saints are very faithful in taking instruction from their leaders, they always appreciate having information and “context” on what they’re asked to do.

When President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the establishment of the Perpetual Education Fund, he didn’t just rely on his position and title to persuade the people to participate.

To provide context, he carefully related the marvelous ripple effect of the historic Perpetual Emigration Fund. He gave an overview of the needs of Church members in parts of the world today where education and training resources are scarce. He shared a vision for helping members with limited opportunity escape the cycle of poverty. He spoke of faith and devotion. He taught pertinent doctrine. He explained that the new Perpetual Education Fund required no new organization and would be administered by volunteers.

We should do no less in exercising our own leadership. When we ask people to make a change or transition, when we ask them to do something different, when we ask them to accept a new challenge, when we ask them to do better, we should always build a solid case for action.

Make the journey meaningful and relevant to them. Give them context. Give them encouragement. Give them hope. Give them vision.

2—Scan for Speed Bumps. What happens if you’re racing down the street and suddenly hit a speed bump that you didn’t know existed? You’re surprised, your teeth are rattled, and you might even lose control of your car. At the very least, your ride is disrupted. The same thing happens when you are unaware of speed bumps in the path of your leadership journey.

Scan for speed bumps. Carefully assess the climate. Analyze the history of implementation in your organization.

Let’s say you’re a new Relief Society president. You are eager to have successful Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment meetings. In the past, these meetings have been only sparsely attended, and many of the sisters have never come at all.

Do you simply rush headlong into the situation, hoping your own enthusiasm will save the day? No. History does tend to repeat itself, and unless you adjust the method of implementation you’re likely to get the same result as in the past.

So you scan for speed bumps. You gather information. You identify the points of resistance. You listen. You assess the impact of competing events and circumstances. You pray. You listen some more. Now you’re better able to make the adjustments that will lead to success.

Incidentally, in one ward with low attendance at enrichment meeting the solution was relatively simple. The Relief Society president brought the situation before the ward council. She learned that a key to the issue was support by husbands and fathers. A special lesson on the Relief Society enrichment program was prepared and presented to the brethren during priesthood meeting. When the husbands and fathers caught the vision, their level of cooperation (availability for babysitting, etc.) increased dramatically. A “speed bump” was avoided and implementation ran smoothly.

An early assessment of the environment is a smart investment of your time. Your implementation strategies will greatly benefit from your heightened awareness of possible obstacles.

The Elders everywhere will instruct the brethren both in public and in private, in the principles and doctrines … so that every individual in the Church may have a perfect understanding of his duty and privileges. – Joseph Smith Jr.

…the vision was granted to him by the Lord for a wise and merciful purpose—that he might, through a better understanding of his duty, be able to remain steadfast thereto.
– George Q. Cannon

… may I suggest that you evaluate carefully. Before you speak, consider what you have heard. Consider the course you are going to recommend… – Thomas S Monson

Note: The excerpts of Leadership for Saints posted on Meridian are only a fraction of the contents of this 349-page book. To learn more about this ground-breaking book and to order copies, click here.