The bishop of a ward depends heavily on the ward council (or at least should be). Because these are such key rolls in the ward organization replacing them can be a daunting decision. Many times leaders default to the tried and true members that would be able to handle such callings without flinching. Is there ever a time to take a chance on someone’s inexperience and put them to a high responsibility calling such as Relief Society President, Ward Mission Leader, or Young Men’s President?
How important is experience when extending a calling?
In Clay Christensen’s book How Will You Measure Your Life? he discusses this conundrum in terms of hiring employees. He talks about the value of hiring an employee with specific experience in order to have them step in the management roll and be able to lead.
Does that mean that we should never hire or promote an inexperienced manager who had not already learned to do what needs to be done in this assignment? The answer: it depends. In a start-up company where there are no processes in place to get things done, then everything that is done must be done by individual people–resources. In this circumstance, it would be risky to draft someone with no experience to do the job–because in the absence of processes that can guide people, experienced people need to lead. But in established companies where much of the guidance to employees is provided by processes, and is less dependent upon managers with detailed, hands-on experience, then it makes sense to hire or promote someone who needs to learn from experience. (How Will You Measure Your Life? p.149)
So what does your ward better relate to? The start-up company with no processes or the established company with processes? It probably makes more sense to look at it in terms of the calling. Is the Relief Society President calling set up with processes where someone can step in and learn on the job? Many of the callings on the ward council are quite complex and take an established experienced leader to be successful. Thankfully there are many other callings with specific processes that can help develop a leader to someday be the one to step in the ward council and flourish.
Developing the Future Ward Council in Other Callings.
To develop future leaders the bishop should be looking for every opportunity to look past your “starting squad” (the ward council) and looking deeper on the bench to those that don’t get an opportunity for tough assignments. If they are not given an opportunity to experience detailed assignments outside of the ward council they may not be ready when you need them ready.
For example…
Imagine the ward council has decided on a summer barbecue in order to invite less-active members to a friendly social. This can be an ambitious task for many. The bishopric may typically assign such an activity to someone on the council like the youth leaders to organize (since we don’t have activities committees). The Young Men’s President would then take the activity head on and buy supplies, reserve buildings, and organize announcements. What if instead of vaguely assigning it to the youth leaders you give them the direction to mentor a specific councilor in the young men’s presidency and have them organize it. The councilor would then be challenged by such an assignment and grow because of it. The young men’s president would be there as a resource to make sure he doesn’t dramatically come up short.
This is just an example of how the bishopric might create a process where people can learn leadership skills. Many of these processes are already built into a calling. The ward mission leader organizes baptisms. The primary instructor organizes lessons on a weekly basis. The ward clerk organizes membership records accurately. As these processes take place they are not as valuable to the individual unless they have a leader that is following up and holding them accountable to their responsibilities. As they are shown their mistakes and encouraged to learn they are quickly becoming the responsible leader you need them to be–future members of the ward council.
This is the second of a series of posts that analyze the thoughts and principles taught in the book How Will You Measure Your Life? Read the previous post HERE.
Very interesting perspective. I do believe we should be training up leaders, but I also know from personal experience that many (some?) sisters called to be Relief Society, YW and Primary Presidents have absolutely no experience in leadership callings, but are whom the Lord wants in that position for whatever reason; while I, who have plenty of knowledge and experience have NEVER been called to be a President. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to callings. It just isn't like a company or corporation, for the reason that we don't "apply" for a position and are hired because of a good fit. We are called to positions for our own growth and learning, or because a certain individual within our stewardship needs us for special qualities we possess or other reasons.
I really like your suggestion on how the Bishop can create a process for learning leadership skills. I sure wish our Branch President could read this.
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Rozann,
All great points.
If a leader is calling someone to a calling with no "rhyme or reason" I think they are doing something wrong. Of course we rely on inspiration and revelation as we make these callings but I don't believe the Lord has one individual picked out for a calling. The Lord wants the leader to consider different options and pick someone who they can work with and someone they can help develop. Looking at it in this perspective I think it is similar to selecting a job candidate in the secular world. My fear is that leaders are simply calling the most responsible rather than helping groom the individual to be ready when the call is needed.
I would hesitate to say that we want to groom everyone to become future members of the ward council. I don't like to think about high offices (filled by ready and qualified members) and low offices (filled by those who, well, are not ready and qualified). A member should not aspire to a calling on the ward council, and we should not assume that having such a calling makes one a better member. I think in many wards, people on the ward council (with their high offices) could learn from those with low offices.
So rather than the ward council focusing on training future leaders, I tend to think they should focus on serving their ward members. I don't want a bishop who is my leader (and I'm his employee, or asset to develop, or the focus of his pity and attention so that I might be as good as he is one day) — I want my bishop to follow the example of the Savior and serve those around him.
Yes, we should prayerfully consider whom to call for callings.
Your example regarding the BBQ is a good one, and I also prefer for assignments to be given to individuals rather than to groups. But there is a danger that a bishop would have to protect against – the ward council might talk about giving this assignment to Bro. A. to help develop him into a better man, but then if Bro. A doesn't measure up, the ward council members will talk about his failure and pity him and so forth and totally ruin any standing he might have had before. Bro. A doesn't need to prove himself to the ward council.
Ji,
Thanks for your comment.
I completely agree with your point that we should not be "grooming" everyone to become future members of the ward council. Neither do I believe "high offices" are filled by ready and qualified people nor do I think "low offices" are filled by those not ready and qualified. I also agree that nobody should aspire to a calling in the ward council. And most of all….I absolutely positively don't think members of the ward council are "better members" compared to the rest of the ward members.
Phew….I'm glad we got on the same page.
Church callings–no matter where they are on the high or low scale–are for the benefit of the member and those that they serve. Just like this life experience is here to sanctify us to become more like our Father in Heaven….this same process can happen with our church callings. This "process of sanctification" happens as we are challenged to be more. Church leaders should constantly be looking for ways to challenge individuals to become more in their calling.
The reality of calling an individual to a calling is not solely based on a flash of revelation containing an individual's name with the expectation to call this person without question. The leader is required to analyze, contemplate, even question the capabilities of individuals so that he can call the person he or she thinks would capable….and THEN ask the approval of the Lord.
For many leader this process of analyzing, contemplating, and questioning capabilities leaves one feeling at times that there isn't too many option. This not meant to put one member above another but to simply find someone the leader can trust and rely on in the specific calling. Rarely is someone 100% ready for every calling and may require some "on the job training"–which is fine. The point of the post is, why wait for them to receive a calling before you help them build specific skills that will help them be a better servant in the Lord's kingdom–regardless if it is a calling on the ward council.
I appreciate your comment and perspective. I'd love to hear if you have further thoughts.
Thanks for tackling this project to review this book with a specific look at LDS Leadership.
It is interesting that some Bishops are called after they are well seasoned and have vast Church leadership experience, while others are called in their 20s, after very little. There seems to be little correlation between preparation and success in the calling.
Ultimately, we need to have faith that those who extend leadership callings did so thoughtfully, prayerfully and by inspiration. Our duty is to sustain and support those who have been called.
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