O God, have mercy on me. The enemy troops press in on me. My foes attack me all day long. My slanderers hound me constantly, and many are boldly attacking me (Psalm 56:1–2, NLT).
Comprehend
At one ministry conference, I visited with a pastor friend during a break. He described some of the good things happening at his church—then cautioned, "That doesn't mean we don't have ...
A leader must accept the challenge of criticism rather than let it become a threat. When criticism is a threat, a leader becomes defensive, but when it is viewed as a challenge, he or she can handle it constructively. Let me share some of the positive approaches I have learned in handling criticism.
As you read the principles below, rate your leadership team on each one.
Routine criticism is common to ministry. It may not be written into a church leaders' job description, but coping with critics, complainers, and loud mouths is part of serving God's people. Abuse, however, is different from (and far worse than) routine criticism. It is not aimed at improving a leader's or a team's work. Rather, it is aimed at discrediting and disabling a certain ministry.
Criticism in the ministry comes with the job. It always has—beginning with our Lord himself. If we cannot handle criticism, we probably don't belong in ministry. We won't survive. In seminary, many pastors hear what I heard: "Be prepared for constant criticism. Expect at least 10 percent of the people to criticize everything you do." We could squabble about his percentage, but the principle is ...
Self-evaluation in ministry has a built-in dilemma: effective ministry demands a certain absence of self-consciousness, yet evaluating ministry demands self-awareness. The key is remembering that, as leaders, our basic priority is to equip the saints to minister.
Rate yourself on what kind of job you're doing using the checkboxes below.
Adapted from Leaders.
Discuss
Which areas did I rate myself low and how can I improve?
Classify Your Critics Long- and short-term solutions to handling those who are determined to keep you in line. Fred Smith
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Critics come in many shapes and sizes. Some are overt, and some are covert. Some hit you in the nose, and others stab you in the back. I have found classifying my critics helpful; it helps me anticipate what a person may say.
I'm sure you'll have no trouble putting people's names with these types (but be sure to classify according to people's performance, not your personal feelings for them). As you ...
There is little that will destroy the momentum of a church as rapidly as unbridled criticism. Critical eyes often focus on the church leader. How often has someone cornered you and said, "I hate to be critical, but … "
You can change criticism from a stumbling block to a steppingstone. Rather than merely being irritated by it, you can be stimulated by it. Use this checklist for managing how you ...
One of the most dangerous inclinations in confrontation is to do it immediately—when you're agitated. Sometimes we're so angry we can't stop from venting. A better idea is to plan for the difficult conversation and even prepare thoughts (even written thoughts) in advance.
Clarify your intentions. Is your goal to set him straight? Get your way? Make sure she knows you're in charge? For a confrontation to be effective, the purpose must be to find truth. Entering the conversation believing you already see the whole picture is to court disaster. Approaching a confrontation as a way for everyone to grow, instead of an opportunity to "fix" someone, will pave the way for success.
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