From Ideas to Implementation

I oftentimes find myself in places where people have great ideas, but there’s not much progress towards completion. It could be for varied reasons, but I realize often that people like to come to the table to eat, but very rarely do they like to be the ones helping to prepare the meal for people to come and enjoy the meal together.

I love ideas but it only works if you’re willing to implement them. I do understand that everyone does not have the gift to administer and implement. There is a need to have leaders in the organization that provide the vision, but also managers that help to implement and create the logistical structure necessary to implement the vision. However, everyone can’t be the leader. It’s important to gather feedback from everyone to ensure folks have a vested interest in the development of the organization and where it’s going. But it’s important to develop and place individuals who have the gift of administration and management that can elevate those thoughts to actionable items. All ideas take resources, whether it’s finances and/or people. But with ideas comes next steps, accountability, and action.

While some may not feel gifted in the area of implementation, they are still needed in the body to help with their support. Support comes in a multitude of ways. For some, it’s helping to be a “cheerleader” for the organization, sharing the good works of what’s going on. Many times, there are “informal leaders” in an organization, whose involvement or support, or lack of support, is made evident and provides a roadmap to others on whether they should or shouldn’t be involved. While sometimes those people are detrimental to an organization when they are not in agreement with something, if they are in agreement they can help do wonders. Be mindful of these individuals; this informal leadership discussion is for another blog 😊

Sometimes it’s the person that helps to provide the resources but doesn’t have the gift or the time to help with implementation. Sometimes, it’s the person who helps with implementation once they are given specific and more direct tasks that they can manage within their capabilities. Many times, I’ve seen people say they don’t want to help with implementation, but when they do assume a task, it is small in nature but powerful in impact because of who they are the influence they have amongst others.

The people needed for implementation come in many forms. Before we dismiss the person’s involvement, or assume people just “don’t want to do,” be mindful of their necessary role in the puzzle. Everyone is not gifted to manage the work or manage the people. Sometimes their greatest impact on the work is their support. We are all needed to help prepare aspects of the meal, so that when we sit down to enjoy it, we can all see what role each of us played in taking a good idea and making it a great meal.