4 Thoughts That Will Sabotage Your First Year In A New Position

Have you ever bought a new car?

I bet you can still remember the smell of the new interior … 

The first time you sat behind the steering wheel … 

And of course, the first spill you had between the seats.

In the same way, the first year at a new position can bring thoughts of joy, love, excitement, and fun; but also thoughts of stress, doubtfulness, pride, and fear.

If we aren’t careful, those secondary thoughts can sabotage our new position just like that drink we spilled in our new car.

So, let’s talk about a few, and how to combat them before they start showing up.

Here are 4 thoughts that will sabotage your first year in a new position before you even break in the driving seat:

1. “I Don’t Need Any Help”

We all know that friend who will wander around a store for an hour before asking a sales associate for help.

No matter how much we beg, they refuse to ask for help.

They believe asking for help makes them look weak, not in control, or worse … not ready to lead.

In church leadership, this prideful mindset has sabotaged many leaders, and the ruins of their ministries are now monuments for warning us.

No position can grow and thrive without help from others.

No leader can be an island unto themselves.

Before this thought comes to sabotage your ministry, plan on doing a few things to keep it at bay.

Determine to:

1. Ask the last leader of your new position how things have been done in the past.
   • Some things you will use, and some you won’t; but it never hurts to ask.
2. Ask volunteers to help you serve in your ministry.
   • Without help from others, your ministry will never grow past your own capacity.
3. Ask other leaders at different churches how they do it.
   • “There is nothing new under the sun”, so discover how others have already accomplished what you’re trying to do.

2. “I Don’t Measure Up To The Last Leader”

Most church leaders face this thought during their first year in a new position. 

When I was voted in as the next Lead Pastor at my current church ten years ago, this thought was echoing in my mind.

I found myself following a person who was thirty years my elder with more experience and maturity than me.

Our preaching, leadership, and pastoring styles were different; and I was worried I wouldn’t measure up. 

It took a mentor of mine to calm me down by showing me I was the exact person the church needed at that time.

I believe this thought of comparison would have sabotaged my ministry if I would have let it.

If you struggle with thoughts of comparison as I did, here are some truths to help:

1. God knows exactly what this church needs at this moment, and He has made you exactly how He wanted you to fulfill this need.
   • If you truly trust in God’s wisdom, this is something you can stand on.
2. Start focusing on your strengths, and allow God to work on your weaknesses.
   • You need to start focusing on “what is in your hand,” as God asked Moses in Exodus 4.

3. “This Position Is Just A Stepping Stone For Me”

Most church leaders know that their current position won’t be their last.

We all have dreams of where God has called us, and how it will take time to get there.

But if we’re not careful, the focus we give the future can sabotage the current work God has called us to.

If we’re just “paying our dues” in our current position until that promotion comes, our hearts will never really be present right where we are.

Goals are a great thing to have, but faithfulness where you are now will determine how God uses you in the future.

If you find yourself struggling with this thought, here are a few things to help get you back on track:

1. Realize God is more concerned with your faithfulness now than He is with your promotion later.
   • With this in mind, start to dig in where you are and give it your best.
   • If you treat every position you’re given as your last, God and people will take notice.
2. The people in your current ministry need your full attention. If you don’t give it to them, they may fall through the cracks.
   • First, and foremost, you are called to serve the people God has put before you today.
   • He has entrusted you with their spiritual health.
3. Realize this position is God’s training ground to grow you into the leader He wants you to be.
   • As church leaders, we often focus on the next thing God has for us, without realizing God’s focus is in the training He is putting us through right now.

4. “I Need To Change Everything … Right Now”

A lot of church leaders make this common mistake in their first year.

God has given them a vision that is new and exciting, and they can’t wait to get started.

So, they hit the ground running with new ideas and new changes.

This is great if they’re planting a church because they are creating the culture from the ground up, but it rarely works out well within an established church that has its own culture the people have gotten used to.

If a church leader starts changing things too soon, they will be met with anger, frustration, and many roadblocks.

If you find yourself within the first year of a position, here are a few things you “SHOULD NOT DO”:

1. Talk bad about the way things are done.
   • No church leader has ever made a church happy in the first year by telling them their: programs are dated, their carpet is from the 70s, or the worship has too many hymns. 
   • This is a good way to make enemies, not supporters.
2. Change anything big or visible.
   • Remember, you are entering this church, not planting it.
   • You will need to earn the trust of the people first.
3. Spent a lot of money (unless it’s agreed on by the church board).
   • You will be tempted to spend a lot from the church budget that first year to help get your vision for the church going, but this is something that has to be agreed on by the church board God has put around you.
   • These men and women can be a great support to you, and what God has called the church to do, but only when you invite them along for the ride.

Call to Action

As church leaders, God knows our first year in any position will bring thoughts that can sabotage us if we let them.

But He also has provided all the answers we will need to combat them.

So, if you’re in this first year of a position, sit down with God and figure out which one of these thoughts you’re facing.

What Do You Think

What about you? 

Do you have another sabotaging thought I didn’t mention?

Feel free to share in the comments section below!