Ministry Execution
The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) is a simple, repeatable, and proven formula for executing on your most important strategic priorities in the midst of the whirlwind. 4DX includes:
- Discipline #1 – Focus on the wildly important
- Discipline #2 – Act on the lead measure.
- Discipline #3 – Create a compelling scoreboard.
- Discipline #4 – Create a cadence of accountability.
WIGs
Each team needs wildly important goals (WIGs).
Because team focus is quickly diluted, it’s important that ministry departments and teams have no more than 1 or 2 WIGs at the same time. While it’s fine to have sub-goals or sub-WIGs, they must ensure the success of the parent WIGs.
WIGs should be measurable and have a clear finish line (E.g. from x to y by when).
Master WIGs for worship, community, service and evangelism might look like this:
- Worship WIG – Increase Worship Attendance and Engagement to 2,311 by 8/1/19.
- Community WIG – Increase LIFE Group Attendance and Engagement to 1,302 by 8/1/19.
- Service WIG – Increase Missions Volunteers and Engagement to 630 by 8/1/19.
- Evangelism WIG – Increase Baptisms and Salvation Decisions to 125+ by 8/1/19.
We might illustrate winning the war this way:
Goals
Goals help us focus on important and strategic things and move beyond the whirlwind of day-to-day activities that consume most of our time and energy.
Recognize the difference between urgent and important things:
- Whirlwind – The urgency of the day to day.
Urgent – It acts on you. - Goals – Important, new activities
Important – You act on them.
Truly powerful and achievable goals are “SMART”. SMART goals are:
- S = Specific – They should target a specific area for improvement. Exactly what do you want to accomplish? Who, what, when and where?
- M = Measurable – They should quantify or suggest an indicator of progress. How will you track your progress? How much and how many?
- A = Achievable – They should aim for a realistically achievable result. Do you have what you need to achieve your goal? Is your goal too challenging? Is it too easy?
- R = Relevant – They should be goals that matter. Is your goal aligned with organizational vision and values?
- T = Time-Bound – They should specify when the result can be achieved. When will you achieve your goal? What is your time limit?
Ministry Action Plans
Use a short form Ministry Action Plan (MAP) to make strategy and goal-setting purposeful and concise. MAPs are vision clarification and strategy planning on a few sheets of paper and the goal is K.I.S.S.: Keep it short and simple.
