From an operational mind...
So I've been thinking about the statement: "everything is going to be fine, it will all work out, don't worry about it." Have you heard that one before? I hear it all the time and more times than I would like.
From someone who works directly with the operations of an organization, that type of answer is not sufficient.
I do believe that God is in control and He will work out things the way He wants them to be, but I believe that we have to be responsible in making sure it works out the way He wants it to work. Why would He call us into working for HIs Kingdom if we weren't challenged by Him to be responsible for moving His work forward?
My primary responsibility at the organization I work for is to oversee operations. I am charged to implement vision that is relayed to me. In doing so, I am responsible for making sure that operations of the organization is in conjunction with our vision. The implementation of vision usually creates chaos. But in order for that chaos to become something of substance, there must be order and structure to the chaos. Take the universe for instance, I think it can be described as chaotic, but I believe that God has brought the universe some structure and order. The planets know what order they belong, what orbit they need to follow, and how far from the Sun they need to be. In organizing the planets and bringing some order and structure to the universe, I don't believe the planets tell each other that everything is going to be fine, it will all work out, don't worry about it. They know exactly where they are placed and follow their orbit. But at the same time they cannot believe that they will be fine. They have asteroids and meteors to worry about. But they are only planets. They don't have brains and can't think for themselves.
Operations of an organization is chaotic but with structure and order, something beautiful can be created. To strive for that beauty, we need to work hard to make sure everything will be fine and everything will work out. In working operations, most leaders strive to prevent certain situations that they do not want to encounter and protect people from foreseen emotions such as frustration, anxiety, worry, and anger. In order to do that, they must create an environment that is somewhat structured and organized. The simple statement of everything is going to be fine is not sufficient because if the operations leader trusted people to execute the tasks at hand then he already believes that everything is going to be fine; but would still like to prevent certain situations from occurring and protect those they are leading from experiencing unnecessary emotions. When an operations person hears the statement it's going to be fine, and finds some undone work, gaps in communication, unsupervised individuals, and misled volunteers, we have some major issues we will be encountering in the future. One of our main goals in a position of operations is for everything to go as flawless as possible and if asking questions, making sure tasks are getting done and all aspects are covered, and drawing out information from people to where it looks like we are being nosy is what we have to do, then we will do it to prevent and protect.
But I think I know of a place where we can start. I know how we can strive to become a place where chaos is created and the result is beauty, but at the hands of order and structure.
-Communication
-Stray away from complete delegation
-Transparency
