We are about to close out 2015, which is crazy. Another year has passed and for many we are in the middle of our school year and in the middle of the business of ministry. Even though it is crazy time of year, I think one of the most important things we can do as leaders is to stop and take time to look back over this last year and really ask yourself some good questions to see where you have come and just as importantly, let you know where you still need to grow.

I have been really going through this process lately and I’m not going to lie, it’s both awesome and awful. Awsome because we get to see how faithful God has been over this year and awful because no one likes to see the things they didn’t do well or need to continue to work on, but both are valuable as leaders. I have been asking some of these questions on the DYM Community Group on Facebook and it has been awesome to see some answers.

Looking back is a way to slow down, do a postmortem on the highs and lows of our life and ministry. Most importantly, you get to see yourself and ministry from a 30,000 ft level. You get to see the intricate design God has placed in your life. I did not come up with all of these, I have seen these in different places and have written them down. 

The following are 20 questions every leader should answer in your annual review process:

1. What activities made you lose track of time?

2. What do you deserve a pat on the back for (brag a little bit here, its ok)?

3. Which area(s) did you thrive in your ministry?

4. Which areas did you struggle in this year?

5. If someone wrote a book about your life this past year, what kind of genre would it be? A comedy, love story, drama, film or something else?

6. Where and how did God work in your life this past year?

7. If you had to describe your ministry in 2015 in 3 words, what would they be?

8. What was your most common mental state this year (e.g. excited, curious, stressed)?

9. What was the three books that has the greatest influence this past year?

10. What was your favorite place that you visited in 2015?

11. What was your single biggest time waster this past year?

12. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

13. What, or who, are you most thankful for this year in ministry?

14. What advice would you give your early-2015 self if you could?

15. What one thing would you do differently and why?

16. What did you think about more than anything else?

17. What topics did you most enjoy learning about?

18. How did your overall outlook on life evolve?

19. What was your favorite compliment that you received this year?

20. What was the most important lesson you learned in 2015?

I have been going through these questions myself and I think it has been awesome to go through. I hope you can shed some light on your last year in leadership. I hope this next year is amazing and I hope God continues to move in your ministry. 

 

@justinknowles3