I spent a half a day with a group of church leaders and trustees. They had been through some turbulence and were keen to sharpen up their act. They were open about the problems they'd experienced and rather than make excuses they wanted to learn the lessons and move on. At one point we touched on the importance of understanding and allowing for the mix of personalities in a team. Some of us are 'Ready, aim, fire' people; We are safe, we plan meticulously when engaged in a major project or a big change. The downside is that the leader often pays a heavy price in terms of anxiety and stress, also the change can take longer. Others of us are quite different: we are 'Ready, Fire, Aim' leaders. This process often gets the job done faster, and there can be more room for creativity. The downside is that, although the leader may not get stressed or anxious, those around him certainly can get anxious by the chaos and confusion and fog of war. The group I was explaining this to found it quite hilarious, and explained to me that their leader didn't fit either of those categories: he was a 'Fire, Aim, Ready' sort of guy. You can imagine the scope for stress and chaos they have been through at times.

Thinking about their history over the last 15 years I have to say that although they have experienced many ups and downs, their small local organisation has had a significant impact nationally and internationally by empowering people and enabling them to build and spawn off projects that have made a difference to communities across the world. I can think of  a dozen projects that have succeeded, plus a few that failed.

So which way is best? I am a bit of a 'Ready, Fire, Aim' man myself. But I seem to end up as part of a team which covers my weaknesses and enables me to make the best of who I am. We all need the right balance in the team we are part of. Knowing a bit about MBTI helps; we train on this from time to time (not me, you have to be 'Ready Aim, Fire' to be able to train well). I'm not a trainer; I'm an enthusiast, so I get away with it, usually.

So, if you are RFA, or RAF, or even FAR, remember that your strengths are your weaknesses, and go for it with all your heart. Be blessed.