Kem Meyer on Less Clutter & Noise

Revamping Communication Arts Volunteerism...

It’s important to provide people with good information, so they can make good decisions about where to serve with their time and talents. (I’ve talked about it before.) And, recently, we realized that the information we were publishing about our Communication Arts and Tech Ops teams was tired and tardy (out of date). So, we took inventory inside of what’s changed (structure, tools and objectives) and looked outside to other people and places we dig for some ideas and inspiration. After all that, here’s what we came up with for our Communication Arts Teams.

• Search    
  When people are just browsing all opportunities to choose from, they don’t need detailed documentation about every department, every team in that department and every role on that team. What they need are some big picture tools that help them scan and move towards a general area of interest. A one page overview is perfect introduction to what happens in our department for Tier 1 fact-finding and self-sorting.
  • Communication Arts Big Picture 
• Invite    
  Once someone has their interest piqued for a particular department and wants to take a next step, we drilldown into more detail about various team opportunities & expectations in each department. It’s a Tier 2 sort/filtering tool.
  • Communication Arts Teams

• Serve    
  Once someone is serving on a particular team and/or in a particular role, we’ll provide guidelines document as needed. Here’s a sample of what we’re working on for our social media teams. It’s a Tier 3 unifying/clarifying tool.
  • Social Media Team Guidelines

Wondering where we landed with Tech Ops? Glad you asked. Jason shares the scoop: part 1 and part 2.

Three stages of a multi-site communications journey...

The question…

“How do we effectively communicate (vision, values and policies) within the multi-site model without adding layers of complexity?”

 

My answer…

When somebody figures out the answer to this question, let me know. Seriously! With multi-site strategy, the complexity factor increases greatly. It’s a constant process trying to figure out what’s non-negotiable for everyone and what’s unique to each campus. We’re early into our own first multi-site launch and each day it seems we discover a new “exception” to the rule. As nice as it would be to launch and hit the autopilot button, it is unrealistic. So, we take it as it comes and adapt as we learn along the way. Here’s three snapshots of the multi-site communication frameworks we’ve encountered through our multi-site journey.

Getting started (1)

The heart behind everything is to empower departments and campuses using “freedom within a framework”. The objective isn’t to boss everybody around with a list of rules, but to instead provide guidelines to work within.

• One web site, enews and bulletin template for the whole church. Although, each campus may have their own unique communication points on a blog or announcement reel, we use the same weekly communication vehicles for 20% of the content that affects 80% of the audience. While it’s not perfect, it eliminates the run-around to multiple sites and makes the basic information easy to find—regardless of the campus.
• Look for ways to produce it once and use it twice. Any place we can eliminate redundancies we try to do it to reduce time, costs and errors.
• Simplify the problem. Rather than react to everything as a complex execution, we consistently boil every project down to its core: “what do we want to happen as a result of this,” and work backwards from there.
• One team; multiple campuses. We all gather as one church, once a week for the all staff meeting.
• Adhere to the same Communication Values. Look for ways to bundle and simplify everything we do. Even though the next steps and ministry teams for each campus are very individualized and unique, we still look for ways to tie the next steps to the same major themes (e.g., the weekend series, volunteers, groups, etc.)

After the first year or so (2)

We’re trying to harness the power of a message and enhance the experience, not create a list of dos and don’ts. There’s a balance between centralizing efforts that maximize excellence and creating a bottleneck for the things that don’t matter. We’re constantly evaluating that contrast, tension and the multiple paradoxes.

• Scalability is the goal but scalability is not the same thing as duplication.
• The focus is mission not mirroring. .
• Community is a shared mission, expression is not.
• Value is communicated different ways to different people.
• Our church, and the community developed around it, is not contained in one box and shipped for use in multiple locations. We’re evolving our DNA to live multi-site as a ministry, not as an export.

Where we are now (3)

After working with a generalized framework for about two years, we’ve gained experience, clarity and advice – from - others. As a result, we recently finalized a working first draft of our Campus Constants to help usher us into the next season and future campus launches.

It’s a moving target, but this shared roadmap helps us all aim for the same bull's-eye.

Three most important skills for technology stewards…

This summer I answered a couple of questions for a Worship Leader magazine article.

Name two or three skills or areas of expertise most critical for a worship tech steward or team of stewards?

We serve people, not technology. So the first, second and third most important skill would be the ability to see the human touch at every decision intersection. Too many professionals involved with technology have mad tech intelligence but sad social intelligence. It’s less common to find someone who leads technology action plans through the human touch filter. The best steward of tech or tech teams doesn’t necessarily have all the answers, but knows the right questions (and the right people) to ask:

• How will this decision affect the people involved?
• Are we complicating the problem?
• Are we falling victim to geek and gadget lust or empowering people to release the best out of them?
• What at risk if we don’t do this?
• What will have to change if we do?
• Is it worth the return on investment?

When we ask the right people the right questions, we are able to not only see a picture of today's reality, but are also able to prepare for course changes and growth without breaking or starting from scratch. 

Wrapped up in all of this is the ability to communicate tech benefits (or liabilities) from different perspectives. That’s the key to translating ideas and objectives into functional specifications and designs. The result? People to say “thank you!” instead of “why do I have to do this?”

Who are the people (by skill, function, title) currently involved in stewarding technology (e.g. audio, video, web, social media, mobile) in your church so that they all work well together?" Is there one point person, or many leaders in different areas...(team over various areas vs. single head)?

We’re organized into three main tech areas between communications and creative arts—each one with a unique vocabulary, distinct personality traits and specialized skills. There’s a lot of overlap between the teams, but we’re all protecting the same mission, vision and values so it works well.

• The Tech Arts Team is responsible for supporting a multi-dimensional experience in the auditorium (or any physical facility platform) by strategically and creatively using all audio and visual systems.
• The Tech Ops Team is responsible for empowering people with transparent hardware, software and support and protecting people from technology infrastructure and security pitfalls.
• The Digital Media Team is responsible for using communication technologies (web, social and mobile) to resource people, enable community and encourage spiritual growth.

Even though there are three specific areas for tech responsibilities and deliverables, the culture here is all about shared ownership as one team. There is constant contact between key stakeholders who are intentional about collaboration and cross-training. Although it might be easier if everyone stayed in their own area, it just wouldn’t be as effective.

(Full article.)

Want better results from others? Change your M.O.

A few weeks ago I blogged about reducing the static to engage with others. I got a few comments and even more DMs and emails from people asking me how to “change an internal M.O.”

There is no “one-size-fits-all” or “five quick steps” to answer that question. A person’s M.O. is about emotional intelligence and spiritual health. The key to breaking out of our own ruts and changing our internal M.O. is self-awareness. But, our ruts are highly personal, aren’t they?

So, instead of just answering “get a therapist” (which isn’t a bad place to start), I thought I’d point to ten posts where I’ve talked about this before (trust me, there’s a ton more where these came from). Hope this helps.

10. Get feedback.  

9. Remember, everybody doesn't hate you. 

8. Learn from your mistakes.   

7. Quit trying to get it all done.

6. Get a preventative maintenance plan.

5. Create social social impact.

4. Know the difference between drawing, crossing & blurring the lines of communication.

3. Guard your heart.

2. Cultivate success. 

1. Get over yourself.

Biggest communications challenge nobody talks about…

Yesterday, the smart and generous people at The Leadership Network and Catalyst sponsored The NINES online conference. Over 100 speakers had six minutes to share their best 'game-changing' moments. Here’s mine.

The biggest communication challenge that nobody talks about…

• The clutter we create when we overestimate what we have to say and underestimate how it’s going to affect the other person.

How to overcome it…

• Change internal M.O.
• Focus less on what we have to say and more on who we are saying it to.
• Personalize a message instead of pushing an agenda.
• Prioritize people instead of performance or policy.

Question to ask yourself…

• How can I change my communication style to release the best in others?

If you’ve got six more minutes to spare… Tim Steven’s shares his game changer, too.

More than 100 speakers, one-day, 6-minutes each, free…

I’m genuinely looking forward to The Nines Conference in less than two weeks.

Talk about the gift of inspiration, practical advice and encouragement—this year’s theme is GAME CHANGERS. Every speaker had the same task: take no more than 6 minutes to talk about the game changers in your life and ministry. In other words, what were the changes, mindsets or directions that made the biggest difference (personally or corporately)?  

Here’s a preview of a few of the game changers I already know about that will be shared at the event:

• Mark Beeson: Critics in your life? Don’t let anger be your downfall.
• Tim Stevens: How do you reach people who are indifferent to what you have?
• Me: The biggest communications challenge nobody talks about.
• Ben Arment: Divided classes in church: pastors and the business community.
• Eric Bramlett: Why does the church have such an aversion to risk?
• Wayne Cordeiro: Do you a hard time saying "no" because you love people? Stop it.
• Dave Ferguson: Which is the greater risk? Saying yes, or saying no?
• David Foster: If your marriage sucks, your ministry probably sucks, too.
• David Gibbons: How can you dive into the uncomfortable chaos?
• Gayle Haggard: You have to face your defining moments head on.
• Craig Groeschel: Less time leads to a better result.
• Alan Hirsch: See yourself as a missionary. Everything else will take its cue from that.
• Will Mancini: : You have to have people who are BRUTALLY honest with you.
• Dino Rizzo: Grow it small? No one wants to be Thumbelina Community Church.

If you don’t already have this on your calendar, might I suggest you TURN YOUR BRAIN BACK ON! In all seriousness, this is an incredible resource for you and your whole team. It’s not often (if ever) you have free access to some of the world’s best leaders and communicators. Have you seen the full line-up? Have you seen the BUZZ?

Reduce the static to engage with others…

I talk about it all the time. Sometimes the picture we draw (with words, actions or images) isn’t telling the story we think it is. You’ll never know how you’re coming across to others if you don’t draw on the wisdom of people with diverse perspectives. 

When I left my marketplace job in 2002 to join the staff team at Granger, I had a wealth of experience, tools and tricks at my disposal. But, even with all the right skills, education and knowledge, I couldn’t gain traction. My ministry and my communication effectiveness was in serious stall mode. Sure, I got some stand alone killer projects done. But, my ideas weren’t spreading and I had very little (to no) influence.

In Making Ideas Happen, Belsky lands on the culprit.

• Connecting with people across the spectrum requires us to stay connected to the needs and beliefs of those around us. This becomes more challenging when we get lost in our own creative pursuits.
• A community sourced from just one stop along the frequency spectrum can prove damaging. Without some degree of mass appeal, most ideas will falter.

Things turned around for me when I realized that, while my intentions were good, my M.O. needed an adjustment. I was overestimating WHAT I had to get done and underestimating HOW it was going to affect others. Essentially, I was my own communications roadblock.

Sometimes I’m the last person to know how I’m coming across to others. I’m trucking along TOTALLY CONFIDENT my efforts will produce an A grade, but I’m completely unaware that everyone around me is using a different grading scale. I can’t see that myself. Nobody can see it in themselves. I changed my M.O. and never looked back. 

I am exponentially more effective when I learn from people who see and think differently than me.

Are you sensational self-promoter or selfless maximizer?

I’ve been reading through Making Ideas Happen with my lead team the past few weeks. It’s generating some good dialogue and reinforcing practices we value. The book goes against conventional wisdom and advocates "self-promotion" to stimulate better teamwork. Before you get hung up on the phrase, consider the motives.

• Is it for personal gain or personal effectiveness?
• Is it about advancing your career or enhancing a team?
• Is it about getting your task done or accomplishing a group objective?

I agree that one of the best contributions you can make to a team is to take it upon yourself to offer your strengths, even if it’s not in your “official job description.” Your teammates need to know where they can rely on you the most, and sometimes they won’t know unless you speak up. (Buckingham writes about the same concept in Now Discover Your Strengths.) Belsky breaks down some practicals:

• You can’t rely on others-especially your managers and clients-to engage your strengths.
• Mine for opportunities.
• Little problems pop up all the time that are, in fact, opportunities to which you can add a unique value.
• Fight the desire to wait for instructions and learn to showcase your skills and expertise without an invitation.

It’s not helpful when a team member jockeys to advance their personal agenda or get exposure for public credit. But, when they promote themselves to strengthen the team? That’s a game-changer.

“Wouldn't it be great if we didn't care who got the credit as long as the job got done?”
Mark Beeson

Don’t let discouragement pile up. Guard your heart…

For the past few weeks, I’ve been feeling an extra dose of discouragement. There’s nothing dramatic going down, no crisis or cause for alarm. It was just a convergence of real life happening all around me—people I love with broken hearts, minds, bodies, relationships and lives. It started to pile up and, in my gloom, I inadvertently started to focus on the circumstances and felt very alone.

Then, one day last week, I saw something on my morning walk that flipped the switch back to a productive place. A lone flower, brightly blooming among dirt, gravel and weeds. I felt like it was God’s little metaphor…

“You GO girl! There IS hope—I am with you. Are you with Me?” 

You know, there are times in life when stress and discouragement pile up. Without intentional guardrails, burdens can creep in, take over your soul and define your reality with helplessness, fear and hopelessness.

I'm engaged in the world around me—on purpose. I don't want to lose touch. There is good to be found. Work to be done.

On the flip side, I don't want to be so absorbed I lose my compass.

I’m rearranging my schedule to prioritize these key areas first, and the rest will fall into place.

• Sleep and exercise. Meeting a friend at the gym at 5 AM every day this week will most certainly get me to bed on time at night. It’s a domino effect.
• Focus and flow. A few times a week, I’m going to turn off email for big chunks of time to still my mind and engage on important projects that yield the biggest returns.
• Read and discuss. I’m launching two new book groups, one at home and one at work to keep learning new things with the people I’m doing life with.
• Faith and fuel. I'm listening to extra message podcasts throughout the week and starting each day with a new devotional to keep my engine running undistorted.
• Marriage and family. Pre-scheduling date nights with Mark and family nights with kids.

The action items might look different depending on the season, but that’s the highlights for this reboot. What about you? What does it look like when you rearrange your schedule to flee a rut? Leave a comment ... share your story. At the end of the day, I'll randomly draw a name from all the comments (Congrats to Andy Waggoner! He won the book drawing.) and give away a free copy of Mark Buchanan's new book Spiritual Rhythm.

Slides, notes & audio about social media & communication…

I thought I’d share some slides, notes and audio from a few of the workshops I’ve had the privilege to lead over the past few months. Hope it’s helpful to you (whether or not you were able to join us at Exponential or ECHO). It just might be the booster shot you were looking for today.

Social Media & Ministry

• Slides (PDF)
• Audio (58:08)

Less Clutter. Less Noise.

• Slides (PDF)
• Audio (1:01:15)
• Notes from Sara Corman
• Notes from Neil Ayers

Church Panel with Charles Lee, Carlos Whittaker and yours truly

• Notes from Tim Schraeder (Behind the scenes… here’s how he does it.)
• Video snippet (4:06)