When I discovered the Gallup Strengthsfinders Test, I learned why I love coaching church planters so well: my signature strengths are Command, Strategic, Ideation, Competition. If you are a Strengthsfinders junkie you know that describes, among other things, a coach. It is little wonder that I enjoy recruiting, strategizing, thinking and ... winning.
The Dallas Cowboys once famously held to a recruiting philosophy that said, "don't hire positions; hire athletes." There is a great deal of truth in that, but there is a problem: what if you need a 350 pound tackle and all you have recruited are 190 pound safeties?
As we race toward fall "kickoff" of our residency program, we have identified some new positions that require specialized recruiting. It is heartbreaking to pass on a blue chip planter with amazing potential, but we need to swap him for a position void. Our great void is identifying people capable of planting a missional community in The Void neighborhoods in Austin -- those places where it takes a special size and speed and strength to pull it off. We can't recruit enough planters for that position!
Haha I would have totally bought into the Cowboys' Philosophy of recruiting the athlete as opposed to the need, even if we did need a 350 lb. DT. That's some good stuff. Reminds me why I like you so much John!
Posted by: Josh Chevalier | July 21, 2009 at 11:09 AM
So what are your void neighborhoods?
Posted by: Jason Kerr | September 10, 2009 at 11:18 PM