Most of the USA this morning is focused on the huge win by Obama. Not me. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad our next president was elected. It's really the very best way to get a new president!
What I mean by not being focused on it is this: Today is First Wednesday! That means an all staff meeting at noon today and it means communion service at Crossroads tonight. And that means for me as executive pastor that I have to be on top of my game today. I cannot "slide" into this day casually or the picture above could become a reality!
This means I have to give a great deal of thought to what is going on in the church and with our staff. As the staff leader, I set the agenda. Hear me well - this does NOT mean I do it all. Can you say, "impossible?" Can you say, "foolish?" What I do mean is that I have to know what's going on and make sure that "what's going on" is known by the whole team. Each staff "player" is focused on his or her own gig, and that's good. They're specialists and hard workers. Staff meeting gives them a chance to see everything else that is going on. It gives them the chance to experience the "team" of the staff.
Here is the agenda that I came up with for today's lunch meeting:
1. "Thank you" Harvest Party Update - Jeanette Chase
2. Phone Tips and Tricks - Alissa Brokaw
3. Big News: Weekend 11/22&23 - Lori Biddle
4. Small Group Leader Plans - Deering Dyer
5. Adopt A Child Plans - Ron Biddle
6. Synergema: New Website - Jonathan Pierce
7. Upcoming CCB Training - Jonathan Pierce
8. Photo Shoot Update - Deb Hammer
9. CCB: The Big Picture
10. Email Standards Policy
11. CLASS Registration
12. Parking and Cleaning Focus - November
13. Crossroads' Metrics
14. Reviews are done; Now - 2009 Goals
15. Staff Christmas Celebration Next Month
16. Thoughts from Tim Armstrong
Once I wrote up this agenda, I then immediately emailed everyone listed on the agenda and reminded them about the staff meeting today. No one wants to be surprised in the meeting. I also reminded them of the "two minute rule."
The other thing about staff meetings that I've learned is that I cannot just be focused on what's happening now, but on what's going to be happening later. As sure as this staff meeting is coming today, the December staff meeting is coming on December 3rd. If I want to make that meeting a GREAT one, I have to make some plans for it now. And I have. I can't wait to tell you about it. But if I told you about it now, it wouldn't be a surprise to our staff later today. How about this - I promise to tell you all about in a future blog post!
