So, the semester just started and you already feel completely swamped. May I suggest the “not-to-do” list? It’s never nearly as long as the to-do list. In a technological world overflowing with apps and software for making to-do lists (I currently use Asana and Things for this if you’re interested) there’s an obvious absence of not-to-do list apps. Maybe it’s because many things on the not-to-do list are apparent and don’t need to be written down. Like incorporating pickup lines into a job interview. Maybe, like many others, you’ve just never thought about making a not-to-do list.
I’ve talked about narrowing your focus and growing in your strengths on this blog before. So, as I read about making a not-to-do list in the book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, I thought about many churches and campus ministries that could benefit from such an exercise. My guess is that the majority of ministries have never even considered a not-to-do list.
The problem is if you don’t make conscious decisions about what types of programs to avoid you can find yourself overwhelmed before you know it. It’s easy for an organization to get bloated. Even if the things you’re doing are good, they might not be accomplishing the mission that God gave you.
Sometimes the healthy choice is to eliminate programs that are thriving so that something else can become healthier. Good programs can actually get in the way of other programs becoming excellent.
That quote from 7 Practices of Effective Ministry opened my eyes to a new approach. I’ve heard Jim Collins say, “Good is the enemy of great.” We need to determine that if we can’t do something excellent then we won’t do it at all and the only way to accomplish that is by making a not-to-do list.
In order to make an effective list you’ll need to know your mission and ask a couple questions of current and new programs:
- What things do we do with excellence? What are we really good at?
- What do we hope to accomplish with this program?
- Do those things align with our mission?
- Are any two programs accomplishing the same thing? Which one is more effective?
- Are there any things we’re doing that are keeping others from being great? (these last two are adapted from the book)
By making and consistently referencing the not-to-do list your time and energies will be better spent and you’ll probably find you’re less frustrated too.
If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend reading the book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones. The practical insights they share can apply to any ministry context.