One of the best ways to self-assess your progress is asking a few practical questions about your progress and where you might want to focus in the year ahead. (Gilmer, 2017) Gilmer suggests a asking some personal review questions (below) related to where you’ve been, where you are and where you’re going.

1. Did I hit the goals I set for myself?

2. Did I lead my team well?

3. Did I support my leaders locally, regionally and nationally well?

4. Did I achieve an effective level of self-care?

5. Did I invest to make myself better in my ministry role?

In the 4 Personal Strategic Development Assessments, Christian Ministry leaders frame their understanding of their strategic leadership journey. The journey moves them from a place of uncertainty in their ability to operate strategically, to strong proficiency and vision regarding their strategic leadership skills. Identifying these skills helps them set life and ministry goals to enhance their  vision, raise confidence and lead themselves and others to a more fulfilling, life of leadership effectiveness. (Sarumi, slide 2)

Personal development is not a tool for reaching a bigger goal. (Sarumi, slide 19) Personal strategic development assessment of present strategic leadership capability,  allows each ministry leader to assess their strategic development, while outlining general responses to the circumstances and stressors they face in their personal and professional lives.

Each Christian Ministry leader identifies the wants and needs for changing and strengthening responses to the circumstances and stressors they face as developing strategic leaders. Identifying strengths and weaknesses related to desired change identifies areas needing attention while developing and strengthening strategic leadership practice. Developing self-awareness, understanding strengths and weaknesses and knowing limitations is key to personal  empowerment. (Sarumi, slide 21)

The assessment also explores the practice of mission, vision and values in strategic leadership practice. If a leader doesn’t have a personal/professional mission, vision or values, they need to  develop one and explain why their mission, vision and values  align with future strategic development and practice. Discovering personal and professional mission, vision and values for a leader’s strategic development is invaluable to ongoing leadership growth and their collective effectiveness as progressive leaders; discovering their fullest potential in strategic leadership practice.

Key strategic drivers also help create the impact necessary for achieving a fuller leadership potential. Determining areas leaders need to abandon and areas needing acceleration for future development, provides a firm foundation for refocusing present experience toward future development and effective strategic leadership practice. Leaders knowing the culture they want to develop from the mission, vision, values and the strategic drivers they envision for aligning  present/future success, informs desired and anticipated future practice, by replacing uncertainty with a prepared and confident strategic ministry leadership practice.

Each leader concludes their assessment by identifying ‘old economy’ thinking and practices used in their present leadership and the outcome(s) experienced. Understanding these ‘old economy’ habits with plans to change those habits to ‘new economy’ thinking and practice helps these Christian Ministry leaders create effective personal/professional strategies to focus anticipated outcome(s) central to developing new practice and skill for an expansion of leadership practices. (Ungerer, Ungerer & Herholdt, pp. xiii-105)

Personal assessment helps with becoming better strategic leaders and allows them to clearly chart their future as strategic leaders. Outlining present strategic strengths helps with the discovery of ways to align strategic practice and personal responses to assist with becoming better strategic leaders overall. This is a necessary task for every leader with a desire to develop strategic leadership abilities and future practice.

The ministry leaders in this section also brought out key focus points to reflect their personal and professional understanding of the important concepts this section represents.

Barriers

Ineffective decision making and painful experiences can establish themselves as barriers that get in the way of future growth. – Friesen

Culture

I would love to create the culture where my leaders can have an honest meaningful conversation which can be translated into tangible assets of trust, and loyalty where a sense of pride is adding value to the community. – Martin

Intangibles

Rather than looking at numbers to determine a successful ministry I am beginning to look at intangibles such as personal growth, a greater connectedness to God and transformation of character and actions. – Parsons

Strategic Thinking

I utilized strategic thinking and leveraged strategic influence in my organizations in the past—however, incorporating a deeper understanding of strategic acting will greatly increase my leadership potential. – Kong

Conclusion

Personal Strategic Development Assessments for Christian Ministry Leadership is not as common as some might think. Often, the pressures and schedules of Christian Ministry leaders, along with assessment and planning for change are caught up in the hectic lifestyle of service and ministry practice. The leaders represented here, took the time to assess their strategic ability, reflect on the implications of startegic leadership practice and communicate their findings to become better at what they envision for their leadership future.

References

Gilmer, J. (2017). 5 questions for effective self-assessment in ministry. Houston TX: Vanderbloemen. Retrieved from https://www.vanderbloemen.com/blog/self-assessment-in-ministry.

Sarumi, O. O. (2016). Personal development for christian leaders. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/leadershipmgtservice/personal-development-for-christian-leaders?from_action=save

Ungerer, M., Ungerer, G., & Herholdt, J. (2016). Navigating strategic possibilities: Strategy formulation and execution practices to flourish.