If you began developing your vision by drafting a single statement, you probably undershot it. Vision is so much more than a sentence. It paints an image of what your organization desires for the future, providing the passion and heart for everything you do. Energized by its vision, a healthy organization passionately pursues that thing it cares […]
Facebook finally got it right.
It took a few years but Facebook finally figured out how to change its layout successfully. In the past, the social network developed something new, published little prior information, and forced users to adopt the change almost immediately. This caused many users to be surprised (they did not expect it), confused (they did not know […]
Uncovering Production for Meaningful Expression
It is no secret that a focus on production in church services has increased dramatically in recent years. And as an occasional producer, I am a huge advocate for the use of technology and other tools to create unique and memorable weekly experiences. But like every trend, a production focus is easy to adopt without […]
Raising numbers from the dead
Last week’s post focused on the importance of Micro-Measuring. Without specific and accurate metrics, leaders cannot coach and reward appropriately. Yet while measurements are invaluable to an organization, they are often resisted because they seem “cold”, “uncaring”, or “dead”. And it’s entirely understandable. Numbers may sound impressive but they rarely evoke significant emotion. This is […]
Learning how to count.
There is a little joke I often make regarding church leaders” reporting of weekly attendance and other numerical data: “Pastors can”t count but they sure can add!” It amazes me how many churches choose to leave even the most basic of results untracked. The fear of micro-managing leads senior pastors to ask vague questions that […]
Calculating Change
The decision for change in any organization involves the calculation of two costs: . 1. The cost of change 2. The cost of staying the same . Sometimes these costs involve financial information. In local churches, they more often include the cost of credibility, influence, stress, time, people, etc. Unlike most calculations, these are very […]
Defining innovation. And actually using it.
Every organization runs on three basic resources: 1. Money 2. Time 3. People . Any obstacle encountered can be directly traced to a lack of one of those three. Thus, the three frequently become road blocks to the development and implementation of incredible ideas. I cannot count the number of times I have seen great […]
Mirror, mirror on the wall
If you want to understand the culture of your organization you don’t have to look far. Cultural cues are taken from the top. The behavior a leader models is assumed to be desired. And what team members assume as desirable they choose to adopt. As adopted behaviors are shared and repeated over time, they naturally […]
Leave the script! (How MLK, Jr. shared his dream)
“I have a dream.” Four of history’s most memorable words were never actually meant to be said. MLK, Jr. spent most of his speech reading from his notes until a good friend and touring gospel singer spoke to him from behind the podium, “Tell them about the dream, Martin.” At this point, the speaker noticeably broke […]
“No way! We’re from there, too!”
If you have ever been on vacation and randomly met a stranger from your hometown, you have experienced the immediate connection made when two individuals discover a unique similarity. If you were to meet this same person on any normal day in your city, there would be nothing special about it. Everyone around you is […]