These past couple of months I have been learning a ton about strategic planning at the core ministry level and its affects on multiple sites. One of my greatest learnings is the importance of having the right people in the room when the plan is laid down. That goes for first impressions, assimilation, communication, specific ministries, next steps, etc…
This is a principle that goes beyond multi-site and is very practical for the church running 50, 500, or 5,000 plus.
Sometimes we as staff in the church make decisions without having the right people in the room. Or we make assumptions that we have the right people in the room. My concern for us in this is that we make decisions we “think” are in the best interest of the organization when in reality they may not be.
And don’t think this is just a church thing. It happens in all types of organization. This past week while Stephanie was in the hospital she and I had the opportunity to talk with 2 ladies in post op about their procedures of post op care listed on the wall above Stephanie’s bed which was the acronym, “SHARED”. Now SHARED is the hospital administrations 6 steps of care that is suppose to be used by every department; however, we learned the truth by those in the trenches. The ladies shared with Stephanie and I that no one in the trenches uses those 6 steps because they are not practical and they do not transfer between departments. In fact, one of the ladies sad, “Ahh… you know how it is, some of those ivory tower decisions without knowing how things really work.”
WOW… might it be said of you and I that we have and/or are making “ivory tower decisions”. I sure hope not. I know that the team that I have the great privilege of serving alongside are working overtime to make sure we have all the players in the room. We are not prefect by any means, but we are working at having the right people in the room.
Just a thought as you look to future planning.
This past week Stephanie (wife) and I have been reminded of the need to, “Plan for Change“. You can read the full story on Stephanie’s blog.
Summary:
1. Have a plan
2. Have someone who can take over in your absence - your “second”
3. Make sure your “second” can run your plan
4. Allow your “second” flexibility to run your plan on your behalf
5. Know the right time to hand over leadership
I was absence from my team for 5 days and they never missed a beat. In fact, they probably did a better job without me there.
Thanks TEAM!
I was in a discussion the other day about First Impressions when someone said, “Who’s responsibility is it? and “Who do I tell?” I soooo wanted to say, “It’s YOURS” and “do it yourself“, but tried to be more gracious.
Here is the deal. We can put the best training manuals in the world together, align every team in the church, and tell everyone in class 101 - 501 that everyone is responsible for making first impressions there own, BUT if we as staff do not model for our members what first impressions are we can not expect them to follow.
As you walk across your campus this weekend think about these things:
1. If you see it, fix it
2. If parking is an issue help someone find a place to park.
3. When you see someone you don’t know, introduce yourself.
4. Help someone before they get to the Welcome Center.
5. Take someone under your wing for the day. Never walk alone.
6. If the material in the Welcome Center is out of date, throw it in the trash.
7. If someone looks like they need help, they usually do. Help them.
8. When you find stuff laying around, remove it.
9. If the trash is full, take it out.
10. Walk your campus before, during, and after every service.
11. Pick up trash on your way in and out.
12. Straighten signs if needed.
13. If displays look messy, clean and straighten them.
14. Help someone find a seat before the ushers do.
15. Be available to give up your seat in a heartbeat.
16. Stop by every restroom in the facility and clean it before it needs it.
17. Wipe down every counter before calling someone else to do it.
18. Replace the paper in the restrooms yourself.
19. Look for people in need and serve them.
20. Come early and stay late.
Surely that is enough to get us started. Sorry for the abruptness in my tone of this post. I am a little tired today.
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