We send each first-time guest family a short survey to get feedback about their experience with us. Here's more information about that.
Last week, we had a family respond that they enjoyed their visit...except for one thing. The person who checked them in at the classroom door never smiled.
Yes...she checked their security tags, wrote their names down, and got other important information...but she never smiled while she was doing it. It came across like an unfriendly business transaction.
This week, I am sending a short training video to our entire volunteer team encouraging them to always remember to smile. Yes, it's easy to get caught up with getting the children checked in and making sure they are safe and secure...and in the process forget to smile and make a personal connection with the family.
A smile makes a huge difference. Think about the difference you feel when you walk into a store and you're greeted by a caring, smiling person vs. someone who greets you coldly with no smile. You remember both, don't you. And you're more likely to return to the place that greeted you with a smile.
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22 that "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."
Families will walk in the door of our churches this weekend that are broken and hurting. They are spiritually sick and looking for help. A smile can be a medicine that begins to bring healing long before they hear the message.
Let's remind our volunteers and staff how important it is to be intentional about smiling when interacting with families.
