Leading a Group on MKDSCPLS

What you can see about your people

You lead a group, which means the platform gives you a read on each person in it that nobody else gets. Most leaders have never seen it, because it is two clicks inside Groups and no one has pointed at it. Ten minutes here and you will not need to be shown again.

The reason this exists, before the buttons

²³Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;Proverbs 27:23 · NIV

Know the state of your flocks. Not the size of them. A shepherd who cannot say how each animal is doing is not shepherding, he is counting. Everything below exists so you can answer that question about eight or fifteen people without holding it all in your head.

One: the row for each person

Every member is one row, and the row carries four things:

• Where they are — how far into what the group is studying, and when they last did anything.
• Discipleship DNA — whether they have done Biblical Identity, Spiritual Gifts, and written their Story. Open reads what they chose to share with you.
• Safeguarding — whether a background check is on file, for anyone serving. Cleared, Expired, or Not on file. You will not see why someone is not cleared; that is between them and your church office.
• Role — leader, co-leader or member, and the way to hand the group over.

Two: notes only leaders can read

On a person card you can write a note: what you talked about, what to follow up, how to pray. Those notes belong to the leaders of that group. The member never sees them, other members never see them, and they are deleted with the group.

Name one person in your group you have been meaning to follow up with, and what you would want to remember about them next month.

Now go and write that as a note on their card. It takes fifteen seconds and it is the whole habit.

Three: sorting, when the group is big enough to lose someone in

Click any column heading to reorder the list. Sort by Where they are and the people who have stopped rise to the top. Sort by Discipleship DNA and you can see who has never taken an assessment. Click the same heading again to reverse it.

Four: the Monday email, if you want it

There is one email you can switch on. On Monday morning it lists whoever in your groups could use a word from you that week, with a link straight to each person. It is off unless you turn it on, quiet weeks send nothing at all, and nothing is ever sent to your group unless you write it yourself.

Turn it on from the avatar menu at the top right: Privacy and Notifications, then "Weekly summary of the people you lead".

What to do this week

Not a list of features. Three things, and none takes longer than five minutes:

• Open your group and sort by "Where they are". Look at the bottom three.
• Click one of those names and write one note about them.
• Send one of them a message. One sentence is enough — being noticed is the point, not the paragraph.

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them — not because you must, but because you are willing.” 1 Peter 5:2

Where to go from here

Knowing the tools is not the same as leading well. When you want the craft rather than the buttons, two journeys and two single courses:

• Called to Lead — three courses on character, competency and calling. The one to start with if leading is new.
• Leader Track — the practical path: facilitating, mentoring, and leading a group.
• Facilitating Small-Group Discussion — seven sessions. The single most useful skill in a group room.
• How to Mentor — six sessions, for walking with one person rather than a room.

Open Browse Courses and pick one when you are ready. Nobody will assign it to you.