Brian Dodridge

Managing Our Image: Our ‘Deflate-Gate’

©pzphotos/ Dollar Photo Club

What do you manipulate to gain an edge? It’s doubtful that you instruct an employee to deflate a football – and the things we do are likely not even clearly cheating. But, there are things we do or don’t do to impact people’s perceptions of us; Author and Pastor John Ortberg calls this image management.

If you don’t follow the NFL, last year’s Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady has been accused and punished by the NFL for directing that his footballs be deflated to an air pressure that makes them easier to throw. I won’t use this blog to weigh in on the controversy or make judgments on Brady, but “Deflate-Gate” has caused me to consider what we as church leaders do in order to appear better than we are.

Slowing Down to Minister (literally)

©RATOCA/ Dollar Photo Club

Think about the pastor in your life who’s had the most profound effect on you.

My hunch is that the person who popped into your brain influenced you not through their accomplishments, but rather, their presence.

Pastors who can exhibit presence, despite all the things going on with them or the church, have a profound influence on people.

How’s your pastoral presence?

In my case as an executive pastor, many people don’t see my role as one where the competency or gift of pastoral presence is greatly needed. But, I’ve learned otherwise. And despite knowing that, I still often choose pastoral production over pastoral presence.

If you’re consistently choosing pastoral production over pastoral presence — you’ll complete stuff, just maybe not the stuff that matters.