For almost two decades, I was involved in one of the most dangerous professions in the world... I was a division manager in the landscape-construction industry. My primary responsibility was the fiscal survival of a branch with 100+ employees, hundreds of vehicles and pieces of equipment, and dozens of clients. The reason that I refer to management as a "dangerous" profession is quite simple: There are rules to follow and guidelines to adhere to for virtually everything, from how to deal with injured employees, to how to document those injuries, not to mention employee handbooks, shareholder reports, labor forecasting, hazardous materials data sheets, budget deviation forms....

But dangerous? Yes. Because at any point, the manager is at risk both professionally and personally for not abiding by every one of these guidelines. If one line on a form is missed, or a terminated employee questions a manager's ethics, consequences are inevitable, up to and including lawsuits, reprimand and even termination. As a result of the ever-present fear of a mistake, I became consumed with the rules. By the time I left, I could recite verbatim every rule as dictated by the home office, the Board of Directors and Shareholders, the State of Florida and the United States Federal Government.

Unfortunately, we often mirror our work in how we lead men. We organize, we create organizational charts, we set up meetings and hold men accountable to be where they say they're going to be, when they say they're going to be there. In some cases, there are even by-laws to be read and covenants to be signed, just to be able to join up with a band of brothers at church.

If you're in the business of developing men's small groups, or a men's ministry at your church, reflect on just how easy, or difficult, it is to join those groups. I love how Joaquin Phoenix put it as he portrayed Johnny Cash in the movie Walk The Line, "Don't give me no rules. All I got are rules." Most men that I meet feel just like Johnny.

Here are some things to consider as you seek to get men organized -- and no, these aren't "rules"; I know you already have enough of those:

1. All men have a "wired-in" need to belong to something greater than themselves. We want to be a part of something that's actually doing something. Focus on that need. Work on doing things together, rather than making it all about "what you should do."
2. Make joining your small groups easy. After all, I can belong to the "fraternity" of NFL football fans by just buying my favorite team's jersey... and I didn't play a single down of professional football.
3. Don't inundate men with by-laws, initiations or tests. There are already enough demands on their lives outside of the groups. Focus on making your group an oasis, not another desert.
4. If you're planning on doing some sort of group study, try to make it short-term, believable and achievable. Keep it in the range of 4-6 weeks and make it doable. No man wants to fail -- we get enough of that in the workplace. Men want to be confident that they can finish what they start, and that it won't become yet another task.
5. Let your guys know that it is perfectly fine to take a vacation and miss a men's group gathering. And that they don't need a doctor's note if they're sick and miss a Tuesday morning.

If you focus your energy on making your small group a place of personal refreshment, while still growing closer to Christ as an army of believers, men will get excited to belong. Let them know that you don't expect them to perform every time you meet, but give them the opportunity to do so when they're ready. Make it easy to be a part of what God is doing with the men in your small groups. Your guys will thank you for it.

David Dusek is founder and director of Rough Cut Men Ministries, a ministry which uses action-movie clips and relevant men's issues to develop David-and-Jonathan relationships among men. For more information about Rough Cut Men, visit www.roughcutmen.org.