Terry Dismore’s Management Philosophy

My focus is on taking people from where they are and helping them discover where God wants them to be. Each staff member must be treated as an integral part of the team. Leadership is helping people discover and build their strengths and attenuate their weaknesses. Management in a Christian station must seek the Lord daily and know that they are there to serve the staff as servant leaders. However, seeking the Lord means waiting on Him and doing what He says. This requires boldness and frequently thinking “outside the box” as the Lord often leads.

God tells us He has great plans for us in Jeremiah 29, verse 11. Our job as management is to allow God to reveal those plans to us, expect him to equip us and then move forward into what God has directed.

Individually, I believe in hiring the best possible people and letting them do their jobs. Many managers think it is their duty to dictate duties and govern results. This may protect the immediate need, but it lacks vision for growth in people that are allowed to “do it their way.” Protecting the license and integrity of the station is vital, but allowing people to plow through difficulties is the best way to learn.

Knowing the audience that he is trying to reach is also important. Every station manager should be well versed in the demographics of the region his station is reaching, and should know who the key players in the city are. A good manager will meet with church and civic leaders on a regular basis, in order to bring awareness of the station and it’s mission to a broader base.

Finally, every manager should be well read. All managers should keep up on current events, history and management techniques. Too many people go through their lives not knowing better ways of doing things because they have not kept up-to-date on what the best ways are to lead.

Management is an acquired skill, and not everyone is able. Even fewer are capable of leadership. It is my belief that leadership is a gift from God and cannot be learned, but God-given abilities can be honed. This is my desire and I believe it is my call.