Why You Might Need to Create a “Stop Doing” List

by Jen Moser, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis

If you’re a leader with a dream to see renewal in your parish or school, chances are good that you struggle to find enough time to work on making your vision of the future a reality. Existing systems, expectations, and responsibilities within our organizations can be like well-oiled machines that keep us operating at full capacity. But if you want to shift from maintenance to mission, it’s a key principle: you are going to have to start doing some things that you’ve never done before, and it’s not possible (or at least not prudent) to add additional tasks to your list of responsibilities without letting go of others. This is true whether you’re a pastor, parish staff member, or active volunteer. So, what are some signs that you might need to create a “stop doing” list?

1. Doing something you’ve never done before requires a mental capacity for dreaming, creating new systems, and taking the steps necessary to execute those plans. It also requires time to effectively communicate those changes to the people involved and find, train, and lead the people who will assist you in implementation. It’s never possible to do all of that at once, but if you don’t have the margin in your life to take the first few steps, you’re going to need to identify some things to let go of in order to create the necessary space.
2. Leading change requires simplifying; “good” things may need to make way for the “best” things. If you have a sense that your time and energies are being spent in places that are not bearing the fruit you hope to see, it might be necessary to do some well-discerned pruning. This should certainly be done with sensitivity to others who may be affected and with the appropriate communication, planning, and execution. But as the number of people disengaging from Church life continues to increase, the mission is too urgent to focus on things that are non-essential.
3. Capable leaders often take on (or are expected to take on) more than they can or should, which quickly leads to burnout. This is especially true when it appears that others are disengaged from participation in the mission of our parishes and schools. When we do this, we compromise our own personal health & well-being, which jeopardizes our long-term ability to serve in the places to which God has called us. If you know that taking on some new things force you to operate at a pace that’s unhealthy, it’s probably time to take a prayerful look at what the Lord is inviting you to stop doing. Check yourself by asking: Is this sustainable?
4. That leads us to the final consideration: transferability. A number of months ago, as I was praying with my own sense of being overwhelmed by the work to be done, I heard the Lord clearly and firmly say to me, “Give the ministry away.” The truth is that there are many in the Church whose gifts are not being tapped into or utilized, and the effectiveness of the mission is going to require calling others to step into leadership. Even if we believe in principle that all members are essential in the body of Christ, it’s usually easier or more efficient to do things ourselves than to identify and train the right people for the job. We have to make time and space to invest in and mentor others, “replicating ourselves” by passing on to them the vision, skills, and tools that we’ve received. This is essentially a process of leadership development. If you’re operating out of a model in which everything is dependent upon you for it to be accomplished, it’s important to start identifying areas in which you can responsibly “push out” the work to others.

Admittedly, all of this is easier said than done. It’s not possible or sensible to drop everything at once; you’re going to need to create a transition plan. In the weeks to come, we’ll share some principles and practical tips for that process.