3. What’s their trajectory?
I love the idea of trajectory in leadership.
Trajectory is simply the path followed by an object in motion. You can predict an object’s future course by looking at its past.
The same is true of people.
Every potential leader you’re considering has a track record … a past that will indicate how they might perform in the future. This is true even of kids and teens (what kind of student/friend are they?).
Often as a leader, you’ll be tempted to ignore a person’s track record. You’ve fallen in love with them (as a leader). And you’ve convinced yourself that ‘this time will be different … I know he/she just needs a better environment.’
Well, maybe. Kind of sounds like a bad marriage ready to happen, doesn’t it?
Wouldn’t you be wiser to look at their past and ask this question?
What have they done with what they’ve been given?
If they couldn’t make it work before, why would they be able to make it work with your team?
Conversely, if they took a small team and made it healthy and grow, maybe you could trust them with a larger team.
If they’ve been responsible with a little, maybe it’s reasonable to trust them with more. (This sounds almost biblical doesn’t it?)
That’s trajectory: A leader’s past is a preview of their future.
Does that mean you shouldn’t give a person a break? After all, maybe this time won’t be like the last time.
Sure, once in a while you might want to do this. But don’t give that person major responsibility when they’ve been irresponsible in the past. Give them a little bit. And pray for them. And help. And watch. And be honest with how they’re doing.
But never hire out of charity—at least if you want an organization that makes an impact. Charity is charity. Hiring is not. Churches mess this up all the time.
So by all means be charitable and radically generous. Give … and expect nothing in return.
For sure, you should always be helping and ministering to people and learning from people. They just don’t have to be the team you’re counting on to push your mission forward.
If you want to advance your mission, recruit people with the skill set you need for the job. Be charitable. But building a great team is not an act of charity.
Find leaders with a track record you want repeated in your organization.
