Getting a Teammate to Leave

Acts 15:36-39 And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylisa and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so they separated from each other.

Let me begin by saying that I long for the day when God will move people from one place to another because:

1. Their personal growth (either spiritual or skill) has been accomplished and they are now prepared for their next assignment.  
2. The purpose for their work within the team has been accomplished.
3. The celebration of one or both of the above is a good thing.

Often, a leader's exit isn't as celebratory as the organization makes it look.

I am sad to say that, after over 20 years in ministry and work, I am straining to remember an experience like this. While I certainly have experienced public celebrations of people "moving on," most times I am privy to what has gone on behind the scenes. I know that everyone is just trying to put a good face on a problematic set of events. Now I know that this is sometimes inevitable, but does it always have to end like this? I lament over this situation every time I see or experience it.

We Can't Use Scripture as a Scapegoat
 

I know of one pastor with whom I served who used the scripture above to justify his benign response to another leader's leaving his ministry. He continued to refer to this scripture multiple times, over many leaders' exits. Instead of looking inward for the ultimate reason he was loosing his leaders, he found comfort in the fact that the apostle Paul got into a disagreement with Barnabas. He, like many pastors, thinks that somehow this is how God really designs how He moves people around. I would challenge anyone who puts stock in this kind of thinking.

"While God does use negative events to accomplish His purposes, He did not design things this way." 

While God does use negative events to accomplish His purposes, He did not design things this way. In reality, He is subjecting Himself to use man's inevitable sin. While many, if not most, pastors would agree with this theology, most would rather connect with the behavior of Paul and Barnabas. It is just easier and takes less time. Even so, there will come a time in your leadership life when it will become evident that a change is needed on your team. 

When to Know If a Change is Needed

There are two distinct kinds of circumstances in which you may need and be able to affect personnel change.

1. You have authority over the person. This is hired staff in churches and employees in business.
2. The people are volunteers. They can be your equals in authority as volunteer teammates, OR they are followers of your established and assigned leadership.

Each of these situations calls for a unique set of behaviors by their leader. However, might I suggest two courses of action that you can take at the beginning of each case.

1. Plan on taking more time than you would like to address the situation. Then figure on doubling that. 
2.  Focus on the person's strengths and gifts. In most cases, the problem is that the person's strength is not being used or just can't be used to its fullest potential.

When the leader and the person in question come to agree on the use of strengths and gifts, only then can a good plan of separation and celebration be implemented. If you do the above, I believe you will rarely have to "fire" someone, not even mentally. Sometimes, terminating someone is the only choice. However, don't terminate someone to feed your need to demonstrate your power and authority. Your sinful nature might celebrate, but only for a few days. 

"When the leader and the person in question come to agree on the use of strengths and gifts, only then can a good plan of separation and celebration be implemented."

Help Others Develop to their Full Potential
 

Some time ago, a certain team called me to help them through a problematic situation. The more I studied the problem and talked with participants, the more evident it became that one member was not a good fit. That person had godly intentions but just did not fit the environment. 

Instead of simply recommending this person's dismissal, I met with the person several times and coached the person through their perspective and beliefs about the organization's needs. Eventually, this person concluded that moving on was necessary, knowing that their expertise was not going to be used to it fullest potential. 

Do you have someone that is not working out well? You trying to develop a plan for their exit? Try the approach above and see if you both can "celebrate" in a godly way.

Maybe even Jesus would put a good face on that.