This is number 4 in a series of 5 posts about how to create a Strategic Plan for Ministry in your business. So far, we have created an effective mission statement with an eternal perspective, identified our potential mission field, and had a brainstorm session about how we will do ministry in the course of doing business. Now we will turn our attention to the laying out of the action plan.
Best Ideas
Now, I am assuming you have already completed your brainstorming session from last time. Depending on your preference of using a smaller team of key managers or a larger group of employees, you need to gather your team together again. Taking the list of ideas generated in your brainstorm session, the group now needs to sift through and find the best ideas, making sure they are in alignment with your mission statement.
Ideally, those that are the easiest to implement with the greatest impact should come first. You can also consider which ones are the most exciting in order to get the most buy-in from the stakeholders.
Categorize the Ideas
Once you have narrowed the list down to those that are the best fit for your current circumstances, you probably want to group them according to which of the three facets of ministry is appropriate (Evangelism, Discipleship, Service), as well as which mission field category applies (Employees, Customers, Suppliers/Vendors, etc.).
While it is not necessary to evenly distribute your activities across these categories, it is good to make sure you are not ignoring any of them.
Create the Action Plan
So you have a list of your best ideas sorted into the appropriate categories. Now it is time to create the plan to actually do them! A typical action plan should cover three elements:
- Task– What will be done and by whom?
- Timeline– When it will be done?
- Resources– What is required for it to be done?
Once you have laid out the action plan for each of your ideas, set some goals for the results. Don’t be shy!
Measurement Challenge
At the same time, you need to remember that by definition, the eternal spiritual impact we are attempting to make is sometimes difficult or impossible to measure, making it tough to set goals. Much of what we are doing is actually just “sowing seeds” and pointing people toward God. We cannot save anyone. Nor can we change their hearts. Even if heart change is a goal, how would you measure it?
Because of this challenge, it is my recommendation that you lean toward setting goals based on activity. If one of your action plan items is to place small new testament Bibles in your waiting area, then just measure how many are taken. If you are teaching a weekly Bible study for employees, then just measure attendance. In this case, you could take it a step further and measure how many of those in attendance go on to lead their own study! Either way, be careful how and what you target and measure. Stay true to Scripture!
S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Of course, you need to make sure your action plan goals are S.M.A.R.T. goals as well!
- Specific– Determine exactly what will be done, when it will be done, who will do it, etc. and write it down.
- Measurable– Make sure you can measure the activity. If you cannot, how will you know if you accomplished it?
- Attainable– This does not mean to set the bar low, but to make sure they are realistic.
- Relevant– The goals need to be in alignment with your mission statement. They need to be important to you.
- Timely– You need to have a time frame or a target date. Open-ended goals are soft.
Start Now!
One hint here…though it is not set in stone, this is great advice. As the leader during this process, you need to encourage the group to agree on at least one or two action items that you will start tomorrow. Don’t lose any of the momentum you have built up to this point. Do something! You will gain a boost if you will be sure to do this.
Once you have set these goals for each idea on your final action plan, you are ready to move on to the last step in this process – determining the accountability process of measuring and monitoring the results. See you next post!
Are moving through the process with me or are you thinking this might be something for next year? Or the next year?
If you are, how is it going so far? Do you have some exciting goals?
Are you inspiring your people in a way that excites them?
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