Categories
Leadership

Overcoming Common Obstacles

We’ve all heard the definition of insanity: Doing the same things over and over again while hoping for different results. When obstacles obstruct mission fruitfulness, we tend to try the same old solutions and hope for change. But, as John McCain says, hope is not a strategy. Jesus called it “putting patches on old wineskins.”

In over 20 years of helping plant and guide student-led movements on university campuses around the world, I have personally witnessed a lot of insanity. Some common obstacles include:

  • the comfort of the status quo
  • the expectation of instant results
  • the unwillingness to release control
  • the discomfort of starting over
  • the negative pressures of leadership

Here is a great article showing pathways to turn these five common obstacles into fresh opportunities.

Question for stuck leaders: Where might I be placing patches on stubborn challenges and hoping for different results? Maybe there is another way….

By Ken

Dr. Ken Cochrum (DMin, Bethel University) is Vice President of Global Digital Strategies at Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) in Orlando, Florida. An avid cyclist and aspiring guitarist, he also holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas and a Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. He recently co-founded Indigitous.org, a movement passionate about connecting people to Jesus using digital strategies. He previously served as vice president of Cru’s student-led movements worldwide. He and his wife Ann spent 13 years in East Asia where they raised their two children. Ken blogs regularly at www.onleadingwell.com.

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