Kem Meyer on Less Clutter & Noise

Communication as a vehicle not a destination…

Effective communication should move people.

Too often, we spend our energy and creativity focusing on deliverables as if they are the communicator. The best projects, pieces, technology and art we create function as a support tool for a macro message. Tools are deliverables crafted for a purpose. They simplify complexity, inspire people to action and empower people in community.

Tools don’t try to tell the whole story. They are a piece of a story. When we try to tell the whole story with a micro piece (Web page, design, technology, etc.) we horde control and fall in love with our own creation. This is a communication dead end.

I think the folks at SoChurch are illustrating some great examples of what it looks like to weight the purpose over the deliverable. Church communications…simplified. Details are still unfolding, but keep your eye on their blog. They’re releasing new screen shots on a regular basis and posting questions about what SoChurch is and what it isn’t. I’m getting more and more eager to get my hands on this tool.

Less Clutter. Less Noise. Workshop Slides…

Last Friday, I led a workshop for a group of ministry leaders from around the country. I promised to post a copy of my slides from the day.

As an added bonus, here’s a PDF version of the slides with a few extra notes included. Enjoy!

Step by step office design for productivity…

“When it comes to staying focused you must be your own personal Madison Avenue advertising agency. The same techniques that draw your attention to billboards on the highway or commercials on TV can help you become more (or less) engaged by a project. When you have a project that is tracked with a beautiful chart or elegant sketchbook, you are more likely to focus on it. Use your workspace to induce attention where you need it most. You ultimately want to make yourself feel compelled to take action on the tasks pending, just as a marketer makes you feel compelled to buy something.”
Making Ideas Happen, Scott Belsky

Maybe it’s because we’re reading Scott Belsy’s book as a team. Or, maybe it’s because of his background in the mental health field. Either way, Daryl couldn’t help himself yesterday from diagnosing the arrangement of my office.

I got a huge kick out of his assessment. The only thing he got wrong, by the way, is the stapler. I did NOT forget to put it away. I was using it. :)

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish there was more copy.

That’s right. The only time in MY LIFE I was asking for more copy was when I read The Pillars of the Earth. 

What made this minimalist read a 1,000 page novel about cathedral architecture in medieval England and end up begging for more?

I never would have picked this book up on my own. Nothing about it’s title, description, genre, size — anything — appealed to my typical interest. But, I was badgered by my daughter. She wouldn’t let it go. I finally picked it up to make her happy, convinced she didn’t know what was good for me.

Boy, was I wrong.

Only a few pages in, and I could NOT put this book down. The whole thing took me by surprise. What made it such a GREAT STORY?

• It brilliantly revealed the surprising value of history and tradition in today’s world
• It exposed the human heart, story and sacrifice behind the bricks and construction
• It wove realistic imagery to narrate the tension of complex relationships and competing values in private and public sectors
• It connected the psychology of every human emotion, motive and action with gripping characters and overlapping storylines

I can’t wait for Friday!

Learning about love of God thru 320 lb lineman & 13 yr old…

So impressed with Braden Burget… he’s a 13 year old member of the Granger Drama Team & he went TO TOWN! Quick rundown of the Blindside…well done!

The Braden Side from Granger Community on Vimeo.

I think this series is making a connection with people. Online viewers are 3x higher than last week and the highest since May 2009. Next week? Avatar. Can’t wait.

     

Web site liposuction…

Last summer I met some fine folks in North Carolina who told me they’re taking this “Less Clutter. Less Noise.” challenge to heart.

I said “prove it.”

They said “game on!”

This morning, crew member Kristi Johnsen sent me news—they just went live with their new site. The before and after speaks for itself.

      

Congratulations Denver United Methodist Church. You are improving the quality of life and church with less clutter!

Coaching network for leading & leveraging communications…

This spring, I wrapped up my first coaching season with twelve communications leaders and influencers. While a coaching network isn’t for everyone, it’s a highly unique and rewarding experience for anyone who is a part of it. It was a great season.

I’ve been asked to do it again this fall and I couldn’t be more eager to get started. I count it a privilege. Who it’s for? Glad you asked…

• Pastors, creative professionals or strategic ministry leaders who influence and support local church communications before, around and after the weekend message.
• Ministry professionals challenged with clearly communicating everything happening across departments and campuses without competing against each other and shutting audiences down in the process.
• Leaders in a season or crossroads who need customized, focused, up close and personal attention. Sometimes, instead of a conference, professionals need a controlled, safe forum to be blunt about the challenges they face to get frank, encouraging insight in return.
• Anyone struggling with these questions (whether you’ve been in communications
  90 days or 9 years):
  • How can I develop trust in an area everyone feels they are an expert? How can I learn how to manage people with or without authority?
  • How can I resist a religious culture that reacts with more, louder, bigger, more? How do I lead communications instead of just facilitating order fulfillment?
  • How can I get people to read our bulletin? How do I get news out without breaking the bank?
  • What’s needed for people burned out on church? How can we loosen the historical markers that hinder progress? How do I respond (not react) to a constantly evolving landscape?
  • How do I do it all wearing multiple hats? How do I keep up with the demand? How do I move to a new role and leave my old role behind? How do I increase new responsibilities and decrease the old ones? How do I make progress while I’m still on the learning curve? I’ve been dropped into a sea of ―I don’t know.
  • How can I inspire people to understand the importance of how and what they say? How do I get all the parts on board with what the whole is doing? How do I transition us from a building with a bunch of mini churches to one church with many ministries?
  • How do I help us act bigger than we are to plan ahead of growth? How do I slow down to look at the bigger picture to lead with influence?
  • How do I define incremental wins in this next season? How do I make the tough call without the agreement from others?
• This document holds the rest of the details you might be looking for (including dates, costs, reviews from last season’s alumni, etc.).

If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, complete the application by 
August 1. By design, it’s limited to only 12 participants (and there’s only six three one spots left).  

I’m looking forward to seeing who shapes this season.

Tip:There are also a few spots left in the Executive Pastors and Connections Strategies Coaching Networks. We coordinated three networks to happen at the same time to make it easier for teams to leverage the time and travel investment. That’s how we roll and we thought you might, too.