Serve Your Way to the Top – 7 Lessons I Learned While Serving My Way onto a Church Staff

Lesson 4 – Be a Great Number 2

This is very similar to the last lesson, “Serve as Though You Were on Staff”, the difference – this one you’re actually on staff. Most people have aspirations of going to higher levels as a leader. Higher levels of leadership comes through higher positions.

Be a great number 2, and when your time comes, You’ll be a Great Number 1

A lot of people want to have the position of the person they report to. Unfortunately, they go about this by trying to out do them, talk poorly about them, some just flat out tell the person – I want your position and I’m coming for it. None of these approaches are healthy or effective. My advice – would be the same advice a mentor gave me a long time ago – “Be a great Number 2″

What does being a great number two look like?

1.) Supporting Your Supervisor No Matter What -believe in them regardless of anything that comes up that upsets you.

2.) Submitting to Your Supervisor no Matter What - If you’re not the #1 guy – that means that it’s not your organization. You don’t get to make the decisions, they do. When you have your own, you’ll call the shots. Until then – always give your input, but once a decision as been made – you submit and support it, no matter what!

3.) Allow Him/Her to Focus on the Big Picture - #1′s shouldn’t have to set-up/tear down, sweat the small details, or anything else along those lines. They need to be freed up to focus on the vision of the organization, provide direction, and then lead. Take care of everything else!

God said if you’re faithful with little, He’ll make you faithful over much. If you’re faithful as a number 2, you’re time to be number 1 will come. When it does, you’ll be grateful you were a great number 2.

Serve Your Way to the Top – 7 Lessons I Learned While Serving My Way onto a Church Staff

Lesson 3 – Serve/Work as Though You Were on Staff

Work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. – I Peter 2:10

I remember before being on staff I set up a meeting with my youth pastor and the youth assistant at the time. They were and still are both very close friends. I told both of them, guys – I want you to treat me as if I were on staff. Give me the same responsibility, same expectations, etc. It opened the door to do some great things. I ended up doing that at ever job I’ve had. I’d meet with whoever my supervisor was and say, “I want more. Treat me as if I were at the next level.”

Some Things I learned from acting as if you were at a higher place than you currently are:

1.) Go the Extra Mile with What You Have – Whatever you are in charge of, make sure it’s getting done with excellence.

2.) Take a Load off Your Superviser - Ask them if there is anything you can take off their plate. What can you do to bless them? What can you do that nobody else would want to?

3.) Make Everyone Else Look Awesome - Make your team better! Compliment them in front of others. Sharpen them! Encourage them to dream bigger. Come along side them on a project and help them through it!

4.) Make Sure the Job Gets Done - Bottom line any leader is looking for is someone who gets the job done. Make sure you’re being labeled as someone who gets the job done, no matter what!

Act as if you were at the next level, act as if you’re good enough to go to the next level, act as if you’re the most faithful person on the planet – because with that attitude you will be all of the above and watch the doors of opportunity swing open for you.

Serve Your Way to the Top – 7 Lessons I Learned While Serving My Way onto a Church Staff

Lesson 2 – Be Comfortable With Yourself

As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it. – I Cor. 12:18

I received a card from a student the other day that really blessed me. At the end of the card it read, “You’ve taught me so many things over the years, but I think my favorite is that life is always best when you can be yourself. Please never stop being you. It’d be a tragedy to lots of people.”

“Please never stop being you. It’d be a tragedy to lots of people.”

I read those words over and over again. Why? Because isn’t it easy to think life would be better if you were someone else? If you were doing what someone else was doing? The truth is – when we’re not ourselves – it’s tragic to others and to God.

I’m learning more, now than ever, to be comfortable with myself. The grass is never greener on the otherside. The truth is, if we were in other peoples shoes, did what they did, or had what they had long enough – we’d feel the exact same way we do with what we do and what we have. So in what areas should you be comfortable with yourself in?

1.)  How You Look - None of us can change our genes – we’re never going to look like anyone else. So quit trying!

2.) Your Calling - I Cor. 12:18 says God put every member of the body of Christ where it has pleased Him. The place God has called us to is the best place we could ever serve in. Stop wanting to do what other people are called to do, and focus on what He’s called you to do.

3.) Your Weaknesses – We all have them! Everyone already knows we have them – so stop trying to cover them up and admit them!

4.) Your Strengths - You’re gifted because of God – He’s given you your strengths. So give yourselves to them and develop!

When you’re comfortable with yourself, people will like you, people will follow you, doors will open, and God can use you more often! When you’re not yourself – it’s a trajedy to everyone around you.

(To the person who wrote me that card – Thank you so much and know that it’s blessing more people than just me because I’ll teach that everywhere I go).