Agricultural vs Manufacturing Approach to People
Last night concluded our Together Nights at NWLife. Paul Scanlon spoke a message entitled “The Crisis of Human Flourishing.”
After reading the parable, Let The Rabbits Run, from Soar With Your Strengths, he talked about the importance of growing people…
Growing the church and growing people are two different things. Should we use people to grow an organization? No. We should grow people. Grow big people – people who are confident, who have a hunger to learn, who will take risks. If you grow big people, you’ll probably end up with a big church.
Good leaders do not have a one-size-fits-all approach. Don’t “process” people. Help people grow.
Good leadership has an agricultural—not industrial/manufacturing—approach to people.
The manufacturing approach is all about a “batch mentality” and controlling the outcome.
In the agricultural approach, the farmer does everything he can to create a culture of growth. He prepares the ground. He provides the necessary resources. Then he plants the seed, steps back, and patiently waits for whatever potential resident in that seed to come out.
Here is the video of Paul’s message at NWLife:
I am a husband, father, pastor, leader & reader. I love God, love people & love life.
Good stuff Brian. Will you be podcasting those messages?
Yes – messages will be up on our website & iTunes this week. Paul spoke different messages, Sunday morning & Sunday night. We also had Matthew Barnett with us, and a local friend – Micahn Carter. Those messages will be online as well.
Love it!
This was such an important message. In my more than 30 years of living in Jesus’ footsteps, I cannot remember a sermon that focused on helping people to flourish within their gifts. I’ve heard a number of messages about discovering and using gifts, but never with the blessing of freedom that this talk offered, vis a vis planting, nurturing and then stepping back. I’ll be watching for the podcast so I can share it, even as I work through it again for my own growth. Thanks!
This makes me so happy- This is how I want to live. Discovering the genius in each person and watching what they can do. Setting them free, not prescribing a plan for “my version” of their success. What success will look like according to me. Ick. Thanks for having him come!