Kem Meyer on Less Clutter & Noise

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

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)

Imperfect is the new perfect. Transparency builds trust.

When I read about Jet Blue poking fun at themselves over the flight attendant incident, I remembered a place in Making Ideas Happen where Scott Belsky references two stories about the topic of transparency.

• Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, has spoken extensively about how Twitter has helped his company build stronger relationships both externally (with customers) and internally (among employees). He explained in a post on his company blog: ’Because radical transparency was part of the culture of tweeting, I decided to give it a try and be as transparent as possible, both for myself personally and for Zappos. What I found was that people really appreciated the openness and honesty, and that led people to feel more of a personal connection with Zappos and me.’
  
• Andrew Zolli, leader of Pop!Tech, spoke about how transparency has made him more organized. ‘I give up privacy. I’ve learned that no problem I might find embarrassing is unusual. If you’re willing to let people access your life, they’ll find what they need. I’ve open-sourced my life. My calendar, email and contacts are all shared with the organization. I’m highly transparent. You can see what I’m doing as a partner.’

I wholeheartedly agree and advocate that, using a mature filter, transparency in social media can be a powerful source of accountability for individuals and organizations. Over the past couple of years, I’ve talked about the benefits over and over.

• It simplifies my life.
• I share my life.
• There’s good Samaritans out there.
• Our parking lot is getting bigger.
• Charm school (testimonials).

Then, this morning on my walk, it came to me that—sometimes—it just might even be a spiritual practice.

• Rather than struggling to disguise or deny your weakness, allow Me to bless you richly through it. (via Jesus Calling.) ‘Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9

2nd session added for Communications Strategy Coaching…

A couple of months ago, I opened registration for a small coaching network to help encourage, equip and collaborate with people who lead and leverage communications strategy. (Get caught up on the story before reading the rest of this post…)

I have been trusting God to bring the right people to this experience at the right time. And, he has already blown me away. The response was so great, I opened up a second network (& picked the dates to coincide with two other coaching networks being hosted at Granger).

• Group A:   Sep 16-17, Nov 17, Jan 27, Mar 3-4
• Group B:   Oct 11-12, Dec 1, Feb 3, Mar 10-11

The network is limited to 24 seats (12 seats each) and 17 18 20 21of them are already filled with:

• churches of all sizes, expressions and areas of the United States—from Washington to California, from New York to North Carolina, from Minnesota to Texas and lots in the middle including Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Montana. 
• smart leaders with a variety of practical experience in marketplace, ministry and not-for-profit backgrounds—from video and web to graphics and media relations, from communications and community care to social media, from worship production to administration, from radio and tv to project management, from business and marketing to computer programming and everything in between.

There are seven six four three seats open in Group B for a limited time (Group A is sold out). I just thought you’d want to know; it’s a very unique opportunity. And, it’s a big commitment for everyone involved (myself included). But, based on past experience (see page 4), the return is immeasurable. It’s an extraordinary learning experience that leaves all participants changed for the better (myself included).

It might be the right time for you or it might be something you want to forward to someone you know. All you need now are the details and the application.

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. :)

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.