The key to design is to clearly define
From Leaderpedia
by Malcolm Webber
The following are some thoughts on design.
1. The key to design is to clearly define.
Define the goal, and then define the process.
In design, the 5Cs and 4Ds should not necessarily and automatically be treated as “equal-weighted” with routine attention simply given to all four in a systematic (1-2-3) formula.
First, clearly define the goal. Don’t just say “our goal is ‘evangelism.’” Clarify! What aspect of evangelism is your goal? If your goal is that they do evangelism then the process must revolve primarily around the experiential dynamic. If your goal is that they understand evangelism, then instructional takes first and central priority. If your goal is to raise intercessors for evangelism, then prayer (a spiritual dynamic) and experiential dynamics must be foremost. If your goal is to build the spiritual life of the evangelist – his ability to hear from God as he goes about his evangelistic work – then the primary components will be spiritual and experiential. Design those first – without even necessarily defining them as spiritual and experiential. Just define what will do it.
The key to design is to clearly define.
Having defined the goal (according to the 5Cs), define the process that will actually achieve the goal. Clarify! Don’t merely design a 4D process routinely. But ask: How is this goal achieved? How is the leader built to look like this? What will do it? Don’t think “4D formula” at this point, but, rather, what is actually necessary to bring transformation to the leader’s life to the point that the leader “looks like” the defined goal. It is fine to use the 4Ds (unequally weighted) if necessary as lenses to create insight, but don’t constrain your thinking! It may be one key dynamic (or it may be all four).
Once that is done, and the key dynamics are clarified, then look at the learning experience through the lens of the 4Ds, define what you already have, and then add the other Ds as appropriate around the central one(s). This will build an even better process and achieve even greater transformation.
Design from the perspective of clear definition and not mere formulaic routine. A mere routine, systematic approach will create ultimately-boring, mechanical, mundane, artificial learning experiences that all look basically the same. It will be as mind-numbing as traditional classroom education.
From the perspective of the entire collage, all 4Ds should be strongly present; but not necessarily in each and every learning experience, and not in a formulaic, artificial manner!
2. I was asked this question recently: Should you use the 5 x 4 grid as a design tool? In other words, when doing design, should we simply “fill in the 20 boxes” where the 5Cs and 4Ds intersect?
Absolutely not! Here are the correct uses of 5 x 4 grid: First, it is a teaching tool that frequently elicits the “Aha” moment, bringing wonderful insight to people as they recognize, often for the first time, the vast differences between holistic and traditional approaches. Second, it’s a great practice tool, as a new design team, for example, “fills in the boxes” as they practice the disciplines of creating holistic design, building their capacities. But it should not be used to create an actual design for leader development. The concert pianist practices on scales, but would never simply play the scales in a performance. The 5 x 4 grid is the “scales” of healthy leader development design.
Effective leader development design is a science and an art. It’s not just a science. It cannot be treated as a mere science.
The brilliant jazz musician first masters the disciplines (the science) and then proceeds to break all the rules. That’s why he’s great. But he can’t break the rules until he’s mastered them.
The 5Cs and 4Ds are tools, they are basic disciplines. We must master them. But if they start to dominate and dictate our forms of leader development, our learning experiences will be dead, ritualistic, formulaic, poor caricatures of real leader development. They will be no closer to what Jesus did when He built leaders than traditional classroom education.
3. Here is a fundamental differentiation between leaders and teachers. Leaders know what is necessary to build leaders; teachers will gravitate more to a formulaic approach. This is one reason why you must have leaders involved in the initial designing – the key to design is to clearly define!
In a design team, build a partnership between teachers (who bring the science) and leaders (who bring the art). The result will be leader development that is disciplined and alive!
