I remember reading an article by Dr. Melvin titled “Effective and Productive?”I have thought about that question for a long time. In fact, whenever I am working on something, I often ask myself, “Is this effective and productive?”Once we begin a project or ministry, these are two important questions to ask. They can also serve as a simple but powerful checklist.
Many years ago, I spent nearly three difficult and frustrating years traveling to a particular place in Korea in an effort to establish a school. Unfortunately, however, there was very little progress. Eventually, Dr. Melvin advised me to ask myself, “Is what you are doing effective and productive?”
I believe he was talking about my leadership, strategy, and actions. He and I both knew that I was a hard worker. Working hard is certainly better than being lazy. But hard work by itself does not guarantee good results. The important question is: Is my hard work effective? Is it productive?
I needed that question.
If something is neither effective nor productive, we need to ask ourselves, “Why do I keep doing this?”Sometimes we continue doing something simply because we have already invested so much time and energy in it. In my case, I continued for almost three years. Looking back, I realize that I was not wise. I really wanted to establish the school, and I believed that what I was doing was the right decision and the right process. But eventually, I realized that I was wrong.
So when Dr. Melvin advised me to stop, I gladly accepted his advice and quit the project.
That experience taught me an important lesson: Being busy is not the same as being effective, and working hard is not the same as being productive.
How Can We Be Effective?
If we want a particular ministry to be effective, I believe we need at least four things:
- A high degree of concentration
- The right tools and resources
- Regular review of the process
- A systematic approach
First, when we undertake a ministry, we need to concentrate on it. Divided attention often produces divided results. If we want something to be effective, we need to give it sufficient attention, energy, and commitment.
Second, we need to use the right tools. Good intentions are not enough. We need appropriate resources, knowledge, and methods. Personally, I have gained a great deal of insight from reading new books regularly. Books have often given me new ideas, challenged my thinking, and helped me discover better ways of doing ministry.
Third, we need to review the process continually. Every ministry is alive. It is moving toward something, and therefore there must be a process. We need to observe what is happening, listen to people, and ask whether the ministry is actually connecting with their hearts and meeting their needs.
Fourth, we need a systematic approach. In ministry, we constantly face choices: Should we react immediately, or should we take time to think? Should we move quickly, or should we slow down? Should we respond emotionally, or should we respond thoughtfully?
There is no single answer for every situation. Wisdom requires us to recognize which approach is appropriate at the right time. Therefore, we need to proceed systematically rather than simply reacting to every circumstance.
How Can We Be Productive?
Effectiveness and productivity are closely related, but they are not exactly the same.
To be productive, we need to know where we are going.
What are we trying to accomplish? What is our final destination? What is our purpose?
The goal matters.
We need a result-oriented mindset. Without a clear goal, we can easily become distracted by different opinions, unexpected situations, and the many demands of other people. We may become very busy while gradually moving away from our original purpose.
Therefore, we need to keep asking:
“Is this producing the result we want?”
If the answer is no, we may need to reconsider our methods, our structure, or even our entire approach. Sometimes productivity requires us not simply to work harder, but to change direction.
If we only continue our usual routines, we may feel that we are accomplishing something simply because we are busy. But activity is not necessarily productivity.
We need to check our progress continually.
“Is this productive?”
If it is not, we should be willing to stop, rethink, and change.
Looking back, I am grateful for Dr. Melvin’s question. It was simple, but it was important:
“Is your work effective and productive according to your purpose and goal?”
That question has stayed with me for many years.
Perhaps it is a question every leader should ask regularly—not only at the beginning of a project, but also in the middle of it.
Are we simply working hard, or are we working effectively?
Are we simply staying busy, or are we actually producing the results God has called us to produce?
Those are questions worth asking again and again.