Why Jesus would never lead a meeting that sucks
By Jeff Smith
I’m tired of meetings that suck
Here’s 5 reasons why Jesus would never have done this
- Jesus was interested in the people
- Jesus was interested in the conversation
- Jesus was interested in learning from others
- Jesus expected that people were thinking (already)
- Jesus always offered the chance for dialogue
As we help leaders design meetings, over and over again we see that the way in which we meet is (at least) as important as what the meeting is about. Peter Block says this about meetings:
Each gathering needs to become an example of the future we want to create.
Bringing it back to Jesus, I would argue that every single time he “gathered” with others, he was focused on moving toward an alternate future. In almost every meeting I’m in these days, I find the meeting deadening and even abjectly wrong in how it doesn’t move us toward a better future.
In that vein, we’re designing meetings within the Maps and Mirrors conference that move people (us and you) to a better future. Specifically, our Leadership Idea Party on Friday afternoon will provide you both an experience in dynamic meeting design (what we call idea-parties) and an explanation of how you can design and lead meetings yourself. Meetings that will be more human, more energizing, and move you closer to the future you and your organization are trying to bring about.
I’m tired of meetings that suck because, by our meetings, we’re living into and creating our future.
Benjamin Ady said
am November 6 2009 @ 3:24 pm
Jeff,
I totally celebrate your choice of the word “sucks”. You’re awesome =)
Paul said
am November 6 2009 @ 4:00 pm
Jeff,
I’m all in favor of meetings that don’t suck. I’ve been to quite a few. And I’ve probably led too many of them.
Jesus would surely have been able to keep things moving. But sometimes when given a “chance for dialogue” meetings can really suck. You know the three hour meeting where everyone got a chance to get things off their mind? `Nuf said.
Paul
Jim Henderson said
am November 6 2009 @ 5:38 pm
These people never read A Failure of Nerve by Edwin Friedman who said “A perpetual concern for consensus leverages power to the extremists”
Kelly Fryer said
am November 9 2009 @ 11:38 am
jim – love this post – jesus wouldn’t lead meetings that suck and way too many of them do.
i have a hunch, however, that it’s not just because people don’t have a better future in view – it’s also because they can’t see what god is doing right now. i think we’d act very differently – we might, in fact, act (instead of just meeting endlessly) – if we believed god is on the loose in the world today, in our midst right in this very moment, at work in and through us (and our neighbors), doing stuff. over at a renewal enterprise we say “the future starts now” and this is what we’re talking about
great blog, by the way – i’m a new but regular reader – thanks for the post!
Jeff said
am November 9 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Kelly,
Your point – the future is now and God is on the move – is spot-on. Jesus seemed to (almost neurotically) believe this! At least he could never shut up about what his Dad was already doing. Very helpful. Thanks.
Jeff
Jeff said
am November 9 2009 @ 12:55 pm
Paul,
Dialogue turning into a quagmire (or worse) is a very real fear. This “structured freedom” is the key to running meetings that count. None of us want a meeting to become therapy (on the one hand) or stay in monologues (on the other) – the beauty of a structured conversation is two-fold: 1) you’re hearing what emerging/or incumbent leaders are really thinking but 2) you (as a group) are gaining organizational momentum. Both are critical (as you point out). Thanks.
Jeff
Doreen said
am November 10 2009 @ 12:35 am
The main reason that Jesus’ meetings wouldn’t suck is this. Every successful meeting should have an agenda. Many meetings do not. Jesus’ meetings would have an agenda, and not a hidden one.
Jeff said
am November 10 2009 @ 10:13 am
Doreen,
While I agree every meeting ought to have an agenda (and the clearer or more explicit the better), I don’t think that’s the primary reason Jesus’ meetings would not have sucked. To me the essence of every interaction (even the hot ones) that Jesus had was that he was genuinely interested (curious if you like) in the person(s) he was talking with. Does this curiosity on the part of a leader carry over into a clear and stated agenda? No doubt, but a good meeting goes much deeper than that – or put another way – it starts much deeper than that.
You are spot-on with the hidden agenda as well – people smell a rat very early on no matter how subtle we think we might be.
Thanks for the comment.
Jeff
Brent Dahlseng said
am November 10 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Jeff,
Thanks for the thought-provoking conversation that has emerged! I want to pick up on something that Kelly Fryer said about God being unleashed and active in the world and that is I wonder if Jesus recognized the God-activity potential in every conversation? I want to suggest that Jesus did create that potential by the way in which he engaged those involved in the conversation (speakers and “those with ears to hear”) in real-life stuff unleashing a sacred moment. When someone really listens to our soul, our deepest questions, hurts or thoughts, isn’t that a real gift from God? It can repell us (like the rich man), disarm us (like the scribes), cause us to push for justice (like the Syro-Phoenician woman), or attract us and change us (like Zacchaeus). How can we create such room in our meetings that we can hear the Spirit in each other?
Paul said
am November 10 2009 @ 2:28 pm
Brent,
You want a meeting were some are repelled, some scared, some called to seek justice, and some attracted? This doesn’t seem to be the positive sort of meeting that Jeff was calling for. It’s not a healthy group dynamic. Though perhaps it is the role of the gospel.
Paul
To the one we are the stench of death; to the other we are the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
2 Cor. 16
Jeff said
am November 10 2009 @ 4:43 pm
Brent,
I think what you’re speaking to (especially the variety of responses) is reality. Meetings (if we’re all showing up ‘for real’) should have elements (or at least opportunities) for all of what you mention.
Your point about Jesus ‘defending the space’ (my term) so that the potential was always there is right on. I think there are concrete ways to structure any meeting so that this potential can have a chance (however positively or negatively – see my Paul comment in minute) to blossom. The Mirrors and Maps conference will have several of those elements as we put people face to face to disarm or become engaged (or enraged) during the gig.
Thanks for reiterating the key part Jesus played in each of those very different conversations. I need to remember that point for sure.
Jeff
Jeff said
am November 10 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Paul,
I think the closer a meeting is to what people are really thinking directly correlates to the variety of responses you’re mentioning.
Sure it’d be great to have only positive meetings, but in my experience, the real organizational momentum that showed up came from both positive and (sometimes explosively) negative meetings. All the leader (or meeting designer) can be responsible for is the container (not what it contains). I think Jesus is a great example of this volatility. Some fell in worship (an obvious positive outcome), others picked up rocks (could end the meeting!). I think the major consideration, in designing meetings, is “what is the experience I want to create to move this group?”
What do you think?
Thanks for your insight,
Jeff
Brent Dahlseng said
am November 10 2009 @ 5:13 pm
Let me briefly say that the gospel is the seed and we are all componoents of the four soil types. At times I am resistent to life-giving nature of God, othertimes, I fade down the stretch, still othertimes, I am energized and experience new growth, and finally, my busy-ness at times chokes out the opportunity to see and embrace what in the world God is doing. Meetings, conversations, and encounters with others are all over this board. Despite the reactions and proactions, I have to trust if Jesus is invited into the mix, the Spirit continues to work, soak, cook and simmer our souls as we ponder the conversation. After all, it is God who works and gives growth – not me!
Jeff said
am November 10 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Brent,
I couldn’t agree more that we’re all “the four soils”, but I wonder about your last statement “it is God who works and gives growth – not me!” I don’t claim to have an answer on this either, but to me there has to be “some” interplay on the growth. To go back to your mention of the seeds and soils, all the elements have to be there – sun, soil, light, etc.
I wonder about the interplay (on our own parts and on God’s) in terms of growth.
What do you think?
Jeff
Brent Dahlseng said
am November 10 2009 @ 6:13 pm
Hmmmm. 1 Cor 3:6; NCD and Luther’s take on the Holy Spirit in the 3rd Article of the Apostles Creed has shaped my understanding of God’s role in faith. On the other hand, the gospel (seed) calls and demands a response – at least to die to myself so I can arise to Christ. We can practice spiritual disciplines which in community can and do bear fruit – is that me in partnership with God? Or is it simply God bearing fruit as I practice the faith?
Jim Henderson said
am November 12 2009 @ 2:48 am
Brent you are a very bright and thoughtful person. You obviously have thought deeply about applying theology to real life situations.
I liked what you said here- nice work with the bible
grrrblaaah said
am November 12 2009 @ 8:33 pm
hi Jeff
it’s an interesting idea, and there’s no question that someone like Jesus would be excellent to have in any meeting, particularly if he was perhaps chairing a G8 summit or similar.
I’m not a christian, but like many non-christians I admire Jesus and many of the things he stood for.
but I’m puzzled about where in the scriptures you got your information for the five points you list, making Jesus a good candidate for meetings facilitator.
1.Jesus was interested in the people
2.Jesus was interested in the conversation
3.Jesus was interested in learning from others
4.Jesus expected that people were thinking (already)
5.Jesus always offered the chance for dialogue
They’re desirable facilitator qualities, for sure. But I’m not sure I know the bit in the gospel where he displays an eagerness to learn from others. Or really that he was interested in the conversation or his expectation that other people were thinking? (And I learned the entire gospel of Mark off by heart when I was 16, so I’m not talking from a wholly ignorant perspective, although I admit I have forgotten large chunks…!)
I suppose if you accept that Jesus was perfect in every way, then it’s logically reasonable to infer that he’d be perfect for a career in the meetings industry – or any other industry for that matter. And that’s fine.
I’m just wondering if there’s any scriptural references to back this particular point up
Thanks Jeff
Love,
Grrr
Jeff said
am November 12 2009 @ 10:35 pm
Grrr,
Thanks for asking. I’m not attempting to quote chapter and verse for each of the five points (although I’m sure someone else could easily come up with them).
While I’m not interested in trying to apply a specific verse to each point (although it might make me feel like those points are better than they are), it’s not a stretch (at least to me as I read) to look at Jesus’ interactions with people (throughout all the gospels) and see that he was interested (I would argue genuinely) in them.
As for matching my list of verses (including my interpretation) with the five points, I stopped doing that sort of thing awhile back. In my reading of the gospels I think those 5 show up, but feel free to disagree.
Thanks for your comment,
Jeff
Jim Henderson said
am November 13 2009 @ 1:31 pm
Grrr.. Check out “Jesus Asked” by Conrad Gempf
Jim Henderson said
am November 13 2009 @ 1:35 pm
Also – Most of us were never trained to “see Jesus” in the way we approached scripture. We were trained to “hear Jesus” specifically memorize his words. That turned us into experts on the script but dummies on the movie.
FYI did you know that Jesus had 132 contacts with people in the gospels andonly 10 were in the temple or synagogue? I didn’t until someone pointed it out.
Go back and read the 122 contacts. Watch Jesus like a movie and you’ll see what Jeff is referring to
Facilitation is a fancy word for acting like God
Its how humans distance themself from giving God credit for being himself and avoid the awkwardness of admitting how dependent we are on Jesus who is the universal law of gravity
Marlene said
am November 27 2009 @ 12:47 am
Excellent conversation, and thank you all for facilitating a way for me to participate. The quote from Peter Block really stands out for me as key to having meetings that don’t suck. (Not my favorite adjective, Ben and Jeff, but I get your point.) Too many of the meetings I have been in are held to meet some formal, organizational requirement. Meeting facilitators often have no vision for an alternate future and even less capability to design a container in which persons engage each other. The five observations Jeff makes about how Jesus interacted (and still does) seem to me to potential as a model for those of us who would like to develop the ability to engage others and subsequently develop a vision.
Gnossos said
am March 18 2010 @ 2:49 pm
I think Jesus would provide good snacks at his meetings.