I remember reading an article by Dr. Melvin titled “Effective & Productive.” I have thought about those two words many times over the years. Whenever I am doing something, I often ask myself:
“Is this effective and productive?”
Once we begin doing something, it is helpful to ask these two questions regularly. They can become a simple but powerful checklist for our ministry and leadership.
I learned this lesson personally when I tried to establish a school in Iksan City, about two hours south of Seoul, Korea. I spent almost three years working on it. Those were very difficult and tedious years, but sadly, there was not much progress. Finally, Dr. Melvin challenged me to stop and ask myself, “Is this effective and productive?”
I believe he was not simply asking about the project itself. He was challenging my leadership, strategy, methods, and behavior.
We both knew that I was a hardworking man, and that was not the problem. Working hard is certainly better than being lazy. But I had never seriously asked myself whether all my hard work was actually effective and productive.
If a method has produced little or no effectiveness or productivity after we have tried it for many years, we need to stop and ask:
“Why do we keep doing this?”
Looking back, I realize that I was not very wise at that time. I could not stop because I sincerely wanted to establish the school. Perhaps I believed that my decision and procedures were right. But eventually, I realized that I was wrong. I accepted Dr. Melvin’s advice and stopped doing things in that way.
How Can We Become Effective?
Let me first talk about effectiveness.
If we want to be effective in a particular ministry, I have found at least four important principles:
- Concentration
- Using the proper tools
- Considering the process
- Taking a systematic approach
1. Concentration
When we are doing a ministry, we need to concentrate fully on what we are doing. Only then can we give our best energy and attention to the task.
A ministry becomes stronger when we know what we are doing and give ourselves fully to it rather than constantly being distracted by other things.
2. Using the Proper Tools
We also need the right tools for the work.
That is why we need resources around us. I have regularly picked up new insights from books, articles, conversations, and the experiences of other people. Good tools can help us do the same work more effectively.
3. Considering the Process
Every ministry is in motion. It is moving toward something.
Therefore, we need to think about the process. Ministry involves people, relationships, trust, cooperation, and gradual progress. We cannot always expect immediate results. We need to understand how people think, win their hearts, and learn how to work together.
4. Taking a Systematic Approach
Finally, we need to work systematically.
I believe we need to carry two minds with us:
Automatic and Reflection.
Quick and Slow.
Emotional and Intellectual.
These are not necessarily opposites where one is right and the other is wrong. Rather, they are different ways of thinking and functioning. We need both. Sometimes we need to act quickly; at other times, we need to slow down and reflect. Sometimes emotion helps us move forward; at other times, intellectual reflection helps us evaluate where we are going.
When these elements work together, our ministry can move forward more systematically and effectively.
How Can We Become Productive?
Then comes another important question:
“How can I be productive?”
For productivity, I believe the goal is essential.
What are we trying to accomplish?
What is our final destination?
What is our purpose?
We need a result-oriented mindset.
If we do not have a clear goal, we can easily become distracted when we encounter different opinions, unexpected problems, or new opportunities. We may begin doing many things without knowing whether they are moving us toward our purpose.
Therefore, we need to keep our goal in front of us.
But we should not become so attached to a routine that we continue doing something simply because “this is the way we have always done it.”
Human beings naturally tend to repeat familiar patterns. We often do things the same way simply because we have always done them that way.
So we need to stop occasionally and ask:
“Is this way of doing things still productive?”
If the answer is no, we need to think seriously. Perhaps we need to change our method, change our process, or even change our course.
Being busy does not necessarily mean being productive. Working hard does not automatically mean we are moving toward our goal.
That is one of the most important lessons I learned from Dr. Melvin.
I am grateful to him for giving me a critical question that I can continue to ask throughout my ministry:
“What you are doing now—is it effective and productive toward your goal?”
That question has helped me not only to work harder, but also to stop, reflect, evaluate, and work wiser.