From mission to multiplication

Allen Hamlin Jr. Oct. 2, 2020

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I attended a workshop last year on the topic of capacity. The presenter, Dr. Tom Lambshead, brought together several propositions in a way that really highlighted the essential chain of elements that enable moving from a clearly defined mission to becoming multipliers of achievement and expansion.

While none of the individual statements are revolutionary, their combination helped illuminate some of my personal stumbling blocks to feeling impactful and realizing a multiplicative effect of my efforts.

Here's how I saw Dr. Lambshead's individual points come together:

Mission ⇒ Commitment ⇒ Priorities ⇒ Capacity ⇒ Multiplication ⇒ Impact

I have a deep interest in managing capacity well—neither over-obligating myself nor under-utilizing my resources. I'm also interested in entering my days and projects with proper priorities and a sense of process. By personality, I am inclined toward loyalty and commitment, sticking with what I'm a part of and what's familiar to me.

I feel comfortable with three of the internal links of the mission⇒impact chain above, but I'm still frustrated by not having clear evidence of multiplying myself or impact. The capacity workshop helped me to see that my frustration largely stemmed from an ill-defined sense of mission.

Like a ship in harbor, without the anchor we have at best a vessel haphazardly adrift. The decks may be clean, the lockers well-organized, the holds well-supplied (commitment, priorities, & capacity), but with no map, rudder or fuel (mission), the ship isn't fulfilling its purpose and won't make meaningful headway.

For me, that's where the challenge comes. Without a clear mission calling forth commitment and framing the priorities, I'm denied true multiplication and impact.

An organization that loosely articulates or only broadly follows its mission will prevent progress.

A leader who bends the mission to suit a personal agenda will kink the chain and minimize impact.

A follower who does not know the mission, or who does not perceive (and respond to) the strong invitation to personal commitment will never have that necessary anchor-point to which to attach his or her talents, abilities, energies, gifts, interests, perspective, and experience.

Any of these faults will lead to disappointment, lack of results, eroded morale, and misapplication of resources.

So, let's fix our chain. Get the links aligned and securely fastened to the anchor-point of mission. Only then might we have a reasonable expectation of multiplying ourselves toward real impact and achievement.

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Allen Hamlin Jr. has worked with an international Christian non-profit organization since 2006. His role has primarily consisted of providing team development training and consultation, along with mentoring and member care, to multiethnic teams serving around the world. Allen has a deep appreciation for the values and tensions associated with serving in and alongside of cultures outside of one’s country of origin.

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