The Winning Question

How much has COVID-19 changed your life? Weird question to start a blog off with I know. Our nation shutdown and millions of Americans were not sure what would come next as they began to work from home and figure out a plan for their family. We as a nation have gone through a lot in the last year and half. 

A question though came to my mind in March of 2020 as the state of Florida where I live began to shut down. How will I use my time working from home to grow in Christ, become a better husband and dad, and lastly how can I become stronger in my job. 

While my family was sleeping I would begin to put together a gameplan to become a better employee, pastor, and leader in the local church where I serve. The plan I developed became something that formed into 5 Questions to move the needle.

But how did I come up with these 5 questions you ask? Well, one day my son asked me a question and his question in its innocence sparked something in my mind. I wish I could tell you his question, but with my ADD and ADHD, I cannot even remember what I had for breakfast today. My son asked something about his sister, and it caused my brain to realize something that has since changed my work ethic and technique. 

I love that a two year old, now a three year old, could ask a 36 year old man a question and change how he approaches his job, but I guess that is how God works sometimes. My son challenged me and helped me to since think strategically about how I approach my ministry and job.

How would you rate yourself as a strategic question asker?  

1          2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9          10

Low                                                                                    High

I wonder if you are someone who likes to ask questions. Up until COVID, I would say I asked questions but never strategically. Why? Because for some reason it has become easy to buy into a mindset that asking questions makes you appear you are questioning someone’s authority. 

The reality is that asking questions can either be positive or negative. It really comes down to why we are asking the question, but also how we are asking. Many times in our jobs we could be helping our organization out if we asked questions, especially if strategically driven questions. 

Let me share some examples with you of positive questions to ask our boss:

1.     What is our (your) mission and vision for our organization?

2.     How can I align my ministry/job with your vision?

3.     Where do you see our ministry/organization going over the next 5-10 years?

Now let me share with you some examples of negative questions people ask their boss:

1.     Why do I need to change my ministry/job to align with your new vision?

2.     What are doing on Sunday’s with our worship and ministries? (Your tone in the voice on this one hurts you).

3.     Can I hold off making changes in my area until next year?

Looking at both positive and negative questions I hope you are able to see the difference in what our questions can accomplish or hinder us from doing. Here are the 5 Questions to Move the Needle that can forever change your ministry or job. 

Question #1: What do you see as our Key Win this year or season?

Question #2: What do you need to cut, move on from, or cancel in your ministry to help you achieve your Key Win?

Question #3: Are you willing to make changes to your ministry if it could lead to exponential growth? 

Question #4: What are some benchmarks you want to see believers have in their life while in your ministry?

Question #5: What is currently keeping you from reaching your full potential in ministry? What can you do to fix that right now?