National Association of Christian Ministers Leadership Series
By Michael Mooney, NACM Exec. Elder
Expectations are key in this area. It seems inevitable that advancement results in greater responsibilities. Such follows that more things will compete for the leader’s time and attention. Therefore, like a chain reaction stress levels increase and attitudes become all the more difficult to monitor. Eventually it becomes all too easy to hide behind the “I’m too busy” excuse, and expect that everyone should understand his or her absence of attention, time, etc. Therefore, phone calls, emails, memos, personal letters and the like go without responses and “thank yous” are lessened.
Unfortunately, the above description fails to consider the truth that people generally do what they want. When a person says that they do not have time, what they are really saying is that something else is more important for their time than that for which they have none. Many people consider this rejection, which results in all sorts of unproductive behaviors. When enough of these such encounters arise (coupled with stress), leaders begin to wonder why they are leaders in the first place –and service is lost.
Reflective Questions:
1) How is “I’m too busy” really a lame excuse?
2) What steps can you take to avoid the “I’m too busy” trap?
3) How do you feel about the brutal honesty of the statement, “people do and make time for the things that they want to do?”
4) How will the above statement change the way you look at your time?
5) How can you give people a better answer than “I’m too busy” during the times when you really are?
