3 Things You Need To Know Before Saying, “Yes!”

(part 3 of 3)

Let’s assume that by now…

You are familiar with the organizational chart and all initial efforts of your pre-hire discovery have been successful.

You have thought through the impact of this job upon your personal life (i.e.: location, salary, relationships and work hours) and you have completed the checklist below.

You have come to realize that you are being offered a position that matches your areas of passion and giftedness, with goals that you can support and feel supported by in a workable environment.

Before you say, “Yes,” consider one more thing…

Personal Influence. 

Personal influence is the ability to have your voice be heard.

To assume that such influence should be extended to you may seem arrogant, prideful, self-important and egotistical, especially if you haven’t yet proven yourself with work-experience. But to a person who has the gift of leadership, it may be the only item in the pre-hire experience that really matters.

Be careful not to expect what you haven’t yet earned, but look at the organization to see if proven abilities will eventually get you there.

If you are a born influencer, it means you run toward responsibility and ownership.

You need what you do at work to matter in the big picture of life and you are willing to share the burdens, risk and blame to get there.

Your work becomes an extension of yourself: your time, your talent, your investment and your character.

Whether you’ll be leading out front or working behind-the-scenes to improve the environment, the systems, or morale, you must believe that your contributions will make a difference and be valued in the eyes of the decision-makers.

Executing the details in your area of ministry will be a matter of ability, confidence and practicality, but being invited into larger conversations may affect your ultimate success.

For a Family Life or Children’s Ministry Director, personal influence may include:

• Managing and executing first impressions in your areas of ministry during pre-service times and group gatherings. This would include: check-in, check-out and safety procedures.
• Assisting in the planning and execution of churchwide recruiting campaigns and determining the seasons in which they will need to take place.
• Partnering and strategizing with decision-makers whenever new services are being added or environments are in need of alterations.

Every job has its strengths and weaknesses, its knowns and its unknowns.

When your fact-finding is done—PAUSE.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. —Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)