Alan Danielson
This post is one in a weekly series by guest authors who embrace the value of “thinking small.” You can read the author’s bio at the end of the post.
I was involved in a conversation about small groups the other day when someone asked the question, “Are we responsible for inputs or outcomes?” In this guest post I won’t be writing directly about this question, so for the next few minutes try to put this particular question out of your mind. Yeah I know that’s like saying, “Don’t think about pink crocodiles for the next 30 seconds,” but bear with me.
So if I’m not going to write about that great “inputs or outcomes” question, what am I going to write about? (Yeah, I know it’s mean to bring up the question again when you’re NOT supposed to think about it). Anyway, I’m glad you asked. Sometimes people make brilliant statements, but true genius comes from asking brilliant questions! The point I’m making today is this: asking the right questions is almost always better than making the right statements.
When leading small groups we often feel like we need to have answers. That same pressure is common to every leadership role whether it’s parenting, consulting, pastoring, managing, or CEO-ing. What if we allow ourselves to let go of the pressure of having answers? What if we instead directed our energies into asking questions?
When we provide answers we are dishing out what we or someone else has learned about a subject. But when we ask the thought-provoking questions we help those we lead to personally discover the answers. So think about it for a minute: Are your most powerful life-altering revelations the ones handed to you by someone else, or are they the ones you were forced to grapple with and personally discover?
Okay, you’re free to think about the “inputs or outputs” question now. To hear my thoughts on this you can go to my blog, but I think it might be better for you to just ponder it on your own.
Alan Danielson was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and became a follower of Christ at age 15. He and his wife Stacey have three beautiful sons. Alan served as the Central Team Leader for LifeGroups at LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, Oklahoma where His ministry included over 1000 Small Groups on LifeChurch.tv’s 13 campuses in six states. Now Alan is an independent small group consultant and the Editor-at-Large for SmallGroupExchange.com. He enjoys blogging, twitter, and is a proud “geek” loving anything related to Star Wars and science fiction.
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