RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

If you're like me, there are always more tasks than there is time, so I look for ways to be more productive.

Recently I read an article in Business Insider that shared some of the ways great leaders get more done in a day.

Dustin Moskovitz, one of the co-founders of Facebook and CEO of Asana, doesn't schedule any meetings on Wednesdays.  He says it's an invaluable tool for ensuring he has some contiguous space to do project work.

Beth Doane, founder of an apparel line called Raintees, let's all of her non-scheduled calls go to voice mail.  She sets aside time at the end of the day to sort through the calls and return the ones that are needed.

Jamie Wong, founder of a travel firm called Vayable, schedules three non-work-related activities each week that nothing can interfere with.  She commits to one activity in each of the catergories, "Create," "Love," and "Grow."

Joe Silverman, founder of New York Computer Help, has his own rewards system for achieving goals that he sets.  An example would be to complete a sales goal and get a coffee from Starbucks.

Tracy DiNunzio, founder and CEO of Tradesy, works from home one day a week.  She carves out time blocks throughout the day to focus on whatever is at the top of her to-do-list.

Bobby Harris, founder and president of BlueGrace Logistics, keeps meetings as short as possible.  He never accepts a meeting without a clear agenda and then asks how long they need.  Then he cuts the amount of time in half.  He says to start and stop your meeting on time, every time.
James Borow, co-founder and CEO of Shift, sets aside emails that aren't related to his to-do list.  He says to  treat your email as a to-do list as opposed to just reacting all of the time.

Good leaders are powerful.  Great leaders are empowering.

Want to find out how you're doing as a leader?  This one question will give you the answer.

Ask your team...Which is more true...our leader is powerful or our team is powerful?

Here's some signs you are more powerful than you are empowering.

• You do most of the talking at meetings while everyone else is quiet.

• Your team is afraid to disagree with you.

• You always make decisions by yourself.

• Your idea always has to win.

• You don't ask for feedback.

• People can't make any decisions without "running it by you" first.

• You like being in the spotlight more than you do putting your team in the spotlight.

• You never hire anyone smarter or more skilled than you.

• "I" is used a lot more than "we."

• You constantly worry about "losing control."

• You feel threatened when someone else on your team shines. 

• You are quick to take the credit and slow to take the blame.

• You become jealous when someone else is honored on your team.

Powerful leaders are stars.  Empowering leaders create stars.

Michael Jordan said it well..."Great players win games.  Great teams win championships."

So which is it?  Powerful you or powerful team?

Want to get more done?  Here's three simple steps that will increase your productivity. 

Pick up the phone instead of sending an email. 
If the email is more than a short paragraph, it needs to be a quick phone call instead.  Stop writing email "books" and take care of it with a quick phone call.

Eliminate some meetings. 
Don't meet just to meet.  When you do meet, don't spend half your time "shooting the breeze."  Take care of business and dismiss.

Spend your time on big impact items.
The bigger the impact, the more time you want to spend on it.  The less the impact, the less time you want to spend on it.

Pour your time into the things that will produce the biggest results.  Small details matter, but delegate them to others.

Remember the goal is not to be busy...but to be effective.  They're not the same thing.

Your turn.  What are some other simple ways to get more done?  Share with us in the comment section below.

The natural pull is toward complexity.  Don't give in.

The natural pull is toward a complex calendar...don't give in...keep your calender light.

The natural pull is toward complex teaching...don't give in...teach simple truths.

The natural pull is toward complex programming...don't give in...do a few things well.

The natural pull is toward complex messaging...don't give in...say one thing.

The natural pull is toward complex pathways...don't give in...provide one next step.

The natural pull is toward complex expectations...don't give in...clarify a few, easy wins.

The natural pull is toward a complex mission statement...don't give in...make it short and to the point.

The natural pull is toward complex registration...don't give in...make it quick and easy.

The natural pull is toward complex meetings...don't give in...cover what needs to be covered and dismiss.

The natural pull is toward complex training procedures...don't give in...condense the 30 page manual to a page of bullet points.

Ever find yourself wishing there were more hours in a day?

You're not alone...we all struggle at times with being so busy with the "ministry minutia,"  that what should be our main focus, gets crowded out.

As a children's ministry leader, our day job should be...

• Seeking God and casting His vision for our children's ministry.

• Creating strategies to more effectively reach and disciples kids and families.

• Evaluating the effectiveness of current programs and processes and making changes and adjustments as needed.

• Pouring into people and raising up leaders of leaders.

But don't these things often get replaced with small tasks, issues that suddenly rise, meetings, preparation for special events, trips to pick up supplies, standing in front of a copier, etc.?

The big question is...how can you free up significant time....so you can focus on what should be your day job...the responsibilities that really matter the most.

Here's some tips that will help you focus on what should be your "day job."

• Keep track of how you spend your time.  Spend a week writing down what you do every hour of your work day.  This is the first step in choosing effectiveness or busyness.

• Eliminate or delegate smaller tasks and replace them with value adding ones.  Delegating work is easier said than done.  We instinctively cling to tasks that make us feel busy and thus important...even when they should not be our primary focus.  Studies show that the average leader spends about 41% of their time on work that could be handled competently by others.  

• Cut some of those meetings.  Don't meet just to be meeting.

Your turn.  What are some other ways we can focus on what should be our primary "day job?"  Share your comments with us below.

Do you want to have a stronger working relationship with your Pastor?  Here's 30 steps you can take that will make it happen.

Always use direct communication.  There will be times when he does something or makes a decision that you don't understand or agree with.  Never talk behind his back about it or to other people.  Go directly to him for discussion and clarity. 

Write him encouragement notes.  Everyone needs encouragement.  Even your Pastor.  Occasionally drop him a note letting him know how much it means to be part of his team and that it's an honor to serve with him.

Publicly brag on him.  Brag on him to your volunteers.  Brag on a great sermon he preached.  Brag on him to parents.  Brag on him to the kids. 

Know his love language and use it appropriately.  Do you know what his love language is?  Is it words of affirmation?  Acts of service?  Receiving gifts?  Quality time?  Physical touch?

Don't bring problems without solutions.  When you bring a problem, bring two or three possible solutions as well.

Keep him informed of what's going on in the children's ministry.

Offer to help carry some of the load.  Let him know you're there if he needs extra help with something...including things outside your "ministry area."

Ask if you can go to lunch with him occasionally.  And pay for lunch.

Love his kids.  Build a relationship with them and pour into them spiritually.  Treat them with kindness.  Remember their birthdays.  It's not easy being a PK and he will appreciate you pouring into them.

Pray for him.  Add him to your prayer list and pray for him daily.

Follow thru on assignments he gives you.  And don't leave him hanging.  Let them know you received the assignment and then let him know when it is completed.  This can be as simple as responding to an email with the words "Got it" and then "Done."

Ask him for advice and feedback.  Ask him for ministry advice and personal advice on how you can become a better leader and children's minister.

Always keep information confidential when asked.  If he says "this stays in the room,"  then make sure it stays in the room.

Show initiative.  Be a self-motivator and self-starter.  Set goals without being asked.  Generate ideas and ways to improve the children's ministry without being asked.

Know his personality.  This will help you know how to best interface with him.

Know the church culture.  Each church has it's own unique culture.  Most of the time it has been established by the pastor if he has been there for more than 3 years.  Find out what it is and operate within the flow of the established culture.

Ask him how he wants you to communicate with him on matters that come up outside of meetings.   Email?  Phone?  Personal conversation? 

Ask for clear expectations.  This especially applies if you are new to the job.  Sit down and ask him what is expected?  What are the wins?  What does success look like?  What direction does he want to see the children's ministry go? 

Stack hands when you don't get your way.  There will be times when you make a proposal for a plan, program, budget request or initiative that he says "no" to.  That means it's time to trust his leadership, stack hands, and jump on board with his decision...with a good attitude.

Don't make him play mediator.  Get along with other staff or volunteers.  When an issue arises, do your best to Biblically resolve it before you have to put it on his plate.  Plan and simple...get along with people so he doesn't have to spend time being a referee.

Earn his trust.  Keep your word.  Finish what you start.  Prove yourself.

Do your job well.  Make the ministry he has entrusted you with shine. 

Get along with church members.  Don't make him spend his time repairing busted relationships. 

Support him and help him reach his goals.  What is his vision?  What are his goals for the entire church?  Make it your mission to help him see his vision become a reality.  Instead of building "your kingdom," help him build the entire church.

Be loyal.  Let him know you have his back and are his biggest fan.

Come to meetings prepared.  If he asks you to bring an update, report, etc...then have it ready.

Be engaged in meetings.  When he is leading a meeting...keep your attention focused on him...not on your text messages.

Make him look good.  Your ministry and life should make him shine.

Don't make excuses when you fail.  Admit you blew it and let him know the corrections you are making to fix it.  He doesn't expect you to be perfect, but he does want you to learn from your failures so they are not constantly repeated.

Always stay positive.  Be an energy giver to him...not an energy drainer.

Okay.  It's your turn.  What are some more ways you can build a stronger working relationship with your Pastor?  Please leave a comment below and let us know.