Mike Walker

Team building filters

I have heard it said many times that in construction there are 3 considerations:

1 - Cheap

2 - Fast

3 - Quality

...and you only get to pick 2. I laughed the first time I heard it but soon discovered it to be true.

In team building and organizations there is a principle of 3 that holds true as well. If you look at it like a 3 legged stool the legs represented would be:

1 - Relationships

2 - Results

3 - Processes

Each of has a natural bent in one of the three as our primary strength with a pull towards a secondary. For example, a good friend of mine is VERY relationships driven as their primary and their secondary is results. 9 times out of 10 he will sacrifice the process for the relationships or results. He realizes the importance of the processes, but it's also the one quickest to be sacrificed. 

As you are building your team (especially at the top level) you need to make sure you have balance in the 3 areas otherwise you could have a team that is high on relationships and results but the processes and day to day operations suffer (which could, in net effect, have an adverse affect on your relationships). If you are too results and process oriented you could negatively affect your relationships...and so on and so on....

It's a good filter to keep in front of you as you are building your teams as well as evaluating your current teams.

It ain't all about the gear...

I was recently brought in by a church that was experiencing some "technical difficulties" after moving in to their new building.

Upon arriving the staff informed me that they were fairly frustrated and they were not sure what to do. As the conversation moved on they kept expressing over and over how frustrated they were because they had just spent a huge sum of money and didn't feel like their systems were all that great.

After about 2 hours of letting them vent I began to dig a bit in to what all had been put in to play. What I found was that they had some pretty amazing sound, lighting, and video systems put in to play. In fact, they had very little to complain about.

I pulled a team of trusted friends together who were audio engineers, lighting programmers, and video engineers. We were able to come back in and run through a weekend with their staff while operating their recently purchased gear.

At the end of the weekend the staff pulled me aside to tell me how everything looked and sounded different that weekend and wanted to know what we did different. Imagine the surprise of the staff when I informed them that we didn't change a single thing. Which then posed the question....well...then what was the difference?

The ONLY difference was that we had great people at key positions. Great gear is only that....great gear. If you don't have properly trained people then you will end up with a very high priced frustration.

Take some time and do an evaluation of where your staff is and what they are really capable of. If you don't really know how to evaluate them then bring in someone who has a better idea how to bring some light to the situation.

If your staff isn't where you thought or hoped they are not all hope is lost. Invest in your people. Bring in a team of experts who can help bring out the most in your team....after all....it ain't all about the gear.

How'd they do that???

I was in Las Vegas recently and attended the Cirque du Soleil salute to the Beatles called "LOVE" as well as KA as a special guest. They are both definite "must see's".

I have now been doing large scale productions for almost 20 years (that makes me feel old). There isn't much I haven't seen and in some cases done, but there were moments where in both evenings where I found myself asking "how'd they do that"?

This weekend was another one of those moments.

During the past year and 3 months it's been nice to be a church member/attendee. For several years I was in the thick of it "doing church". What always made it tough was, in the process of working it was often hard to let go and be a worshipper or get fed.

Let me be clear here, I am in no way placing blame anywhere.....I am just saying it was tough.

The past several weeks I found myself being able to attend my home church Gateway in Southlake (which I am greatly thankful for the investment they have made in me), but then was on site with different clients on Sunday morning. As I was in the middle of a service on one of the weekends I looked around at the staff and was asking "how do they do this"? Several of the people I have been in contact with are in the throws of doing services and never have the chance to sit in a service to be a worshipper or have a chance to disconnect enough to get fed. Again, it's just hard. It's no wonder that burnout in the church world is so high.

Here's another sobering thought, network television produces between 18-26 episodes a year. The local church has 52 if they only do weekends. What about the ones who do Wednesdays or require additional time from the staff during the week for outside classes or whatnot....wow!

If you are a church staff member let me first send out some props...keep going! At the same time do what you can to make sure you stay healthy and aren't trying to pass out something you don't have yourself.

If you know someone on a church staff that is burning it at both ends make sure to keep them covered in prayer.....having been there I can tell you that they need it.

Looking back I am not really sure how I did it....or if I was always successful at it...but recent events have made me take a good hard look at friends and clients and wonder...."how do they do it"?

Buy in

I am currently working on a couple of larger production projects as well as working on buying a company. All of these things require large amounts of capital to execute.

I have a good friend of mine who is a venture capitalist that I went to for some advice while putting all my documentation together. The first thing he told me was "before anyone gives you a dime or buys in to your idea...they have to buy in to you. If you have a track record that will make it easier, but if you don't then you have to sell yourself...then, and only then, will they listen to your idea".

I have heard that said in a similar manner before, but it was a good reminder.

It got me to thinking later about employees. Sadly most organizations see them merely as that...employees there to serve "me" (the leader) to carry out "my" vision.

What if as leaders we viewed our employees as investors? What if we got them to buy in to the vision for the organization to help build it and grow it. What if the organization grew beyond the leader and we were able to grow something larger than ourselves? I think most would say they want that, but not many go out and DO that.

A side note on buy in...it's not fear. Having your employees fear you does not mean they buy in.

Some time ago I was an observer in a meeting. There was a new leader put in place to run a department. I just about fell over when he made statements to the effect (I will paraphrase) "it's now my department so it's my way. I have taken some larger leaders out and I won't hesitate to do the same to any of you if you don't buy in to my vision".

While yes it sounds absurd and cartoonish, but it happened. Consequently, the team, instead of getting on board and helping dig in to grow the vision they now, even to this day, do just enough. They do their jobs and nothing more. There is no buy in.

I have also sat in meetings where a new leader is brought in and clearly laid out the vision, told the team "this is your department. We will grow and develop as to the level you all buy in and contribute. If you are ok with being average then we will be average. If you want to be great then we will do it together."

I spoke with the leader of the organization just the other day and they are still growing leaps and bounds and morale is at an all time high. Everyone is working hard, but they are digging in and doing it together because they bought in to the leader then the vision.

Get the buy in and there's no telling where you can go...as a leader, as a team, and as an organization.

People Solve Problems

I produced a large festival in Dallas, TX for several years and had the privilege of working with a man I had respected for many years named Denny Keitzman who is one of the absolute best production managers the industry has ever seen.

It was an outdoor event and we had seen several days of severe weather leading up to the event as well as on show day. Everyone on the stage was exhausted and starting to fade as the show finally got under way. As we were discussing possible scenarios to preserve the event and make the best out of a tough situation I remember him saying “people solve problems, so let’s make sure our people working have exactly what they need to do their job, they are well fed, and they feel appreciated”.

The first thing we did was have catering bring additional food and drinks to the stage. The next thing we did was huddle the team and figure out what each person needed to be successful that day and we made sure if it was at all possible we got it for them. Finally we made sure everyone knew that they were vital to the success of the day and every chance we got we made sure to thank them and let them know they were appreciated.

What could have been a disastrous day ended up being one we all celebrated together and still talk about to this day.

I see too many situations where organizations forget that it’s people who solve problems and if you want to grow an organization you have to be about people. Starbucks says it best when they say “we are not in the coffee business serving people, we’re in the people business serving coffee. We are passionate about the people who make the coffee, the people we serve, the people we partner with, and the communities we’re a part of”

I think over the years I haven’t adequately been able to state why I do what I do. I think some people have seen the creativity and technology and always thought I was about excellence for the sake of excellence or being great at creativity or technology, but it’s always been about people.

When you take an approach that is people centered it makes it easy to keep an open mind. Through the years I didn’t always just do what I wanted to do or what I thought would be the coolest thing. In fact there were several times I completely thought ideas were the wrong ideas or approaches, but…because it was never about me and it was always about people, the people coming in the doors, the people I worked with, the people I worked for, and the people/companies I kept relationships with, it was always easy get past it and stay about the business of connecting with and impacting people.

Leadership - Brady Boyd notes from Gateway Conference

As a leader you will have crisis

*side note - one of the largest challenges todays church faces is the belief by the world that getting saved will begin a disneyesque experience in your life and you will live happily ever after

1-crisis will test your leadership
Acts chapter 9 - saul - verse 26 - barnabus was the one who saw the potential in saul
Saul got saved and didn't have a disneyesque experience - as a church we have to fight the notion that once you get saved your life will be a disneyesque experience.....its a lie the world believes

Leadership that is not tested can not be trusted

Your first election comes from your church (they may choose you as their preacher), but until you pass the test they won't choose u as leader
*positions are man given while leadership is God given

Brady referenced the scandal that had happened with the predecessor at his church. He mentions that the younger generation wasn't too phased by it. The students and younger generation expects leaders to fail which is why they weren't affected by the haggard scandal

Crisis will confirm your faith-in a crisis you will quickly determine what your values are

You need to write down what your non negotiables are-you don't get to decide what ur core is during a crisis

Whatever you are willing to negotiate with the enemy you will lose

In james it reminds us that when we go through trials of any kind to pray for wisdom

Our opinions have never changed anyones life-truth changes peoples lives

Crisis will reveal God to the world by how we respond

There are 2 times the eyes of the world will be on you...1-when you are successful and 2-when you are in crisis

God trains you for the assignment he gives you

Acts 8:1-this is when God placed growth in the church

Persecution makes us better-the lessons you can learn are priceless

Every plan the enemy has against Gods children has backfired and will backfire

Jimmy Evans from Octane Conference

Here are my notes from one of the sessions with Jimmy Evans at Gateways Leadership Conference:

-Excellence deals in all 5 senses
-Materialism deals only in visual
-Society concentrates on outward appearances as opposed to inward
-Excellence is not legalism
-God is a good steward and He does not waste – what do we need to do so that God knows we will be good stewards with what he gives us?
-Its not what you can make happen....can you keep it happening?
-Excellence is an excellent billboard and witnessing tool
-Excellence is a teachable spirit – be teachable – excellence is always learning – its never enough until God has called me to do all I am called to do
-Excellence is the spirit of the servant
-Some people think excellence is too difficult – it’s actually easier to do it right – it’s easier to work at your marriage as opposed to not work at it
-If God brings more people to a mediocre church he is endorsing mediocrity
-In the process of establishing excellence you will lose some people....you will gain more and better people
-People want to know the secret to Hillsong success...one word....Work
-People will measure their view of God by us

Satellite Church

In my last 2 years at Fellowship Church one of the things added to my list was to help launch 4 satellite (distributed) campuses (3 of which opened within 3 months of each other).

I come across a lot of churches who want to expand their reach by opening satellite campuses. Whether or not it's for you really depends on your situation, but there are some definite perks to doing satellite church:
1 - If you are already a megachurch and looking to expand, you are talking about $15-20 million easy for a new building to seat 3500-4000 people. You can build a well outfitted (depending on your technology model) building for between $3-10 million. Beyond the costs of building there is also the cost of ownership after you build. Maintaining a building that seats 1500 is a lot easier than 4000 (and less expensive).
2 - It makes you more accessible to other communities that might not know about you, but also might not be inclined to make a drive to your main location. Think about this...a youth department that has a local set up near 8 high schools has more influence than if they just had direct impact on 3.
3 - It gives you opportunity to expand the leadership within your organization. The more you grow the more capable leaders you will need. Having a bunch of great leaders around is never a bad thing...as long as they are led well. A bunch of great leaders without good leadership above them ends up being groups of renegades.

I could keep going, but you get the point.

Over the next few weeks and months we will talking about what things you need to have on your checklist if you are thinking about launching satellite campuses.

Be back soon.

Great thoughts on email

I read the following post from Phil Cooke who had some great thoughts on email.

I recieve on average 55-70 emails a day (not including junkmail) and it is so easy for me to get caught up in quickly responding that I could eat up my entire day doing nothing but emailing. I forget sometimes, that while email is nice and handy you also need to completely think through what you type.

Take a minute and read this. It will help you both personally and professionally. If you don't have policies regarding email I would encourage you to put some in place. It can bite you real quick...

Wikinomics

I have been reading a book called Wikinomics. The book talks about a whole lot more than what I am going to write about. Below are some thoughts I have been jotting down as I am reading so I thought I would share.

"Net Generation" Leader - my thoughts on Wikinomics and how it relates to culture and leadership

Born 1977-1996
First Generation to grow up in a digital society – we are probably about 5 years from seeing the emergence of the leaders of this generation.

They grew up more in a digital culture than boomers or genexers did.

We grew up socializing in malls, burger joints, etc….this generation is connecting on the web.

Yesterdays web was a noun – todays web is a verb

University of Berkeley-based social scientist Danah Boyd research online social behaviours. She states that sites like Myspace and Facebook allow young people to reclaim private space. It’s like inviting someone in to your bedroom except that with Myspace you can invite them in 1000 at a time. They lack control at home and they don’t see home as private space.

Online offers safer solutions for teens. Malls and 7-11’s wont allow them in unless they are accompanied by parents.

Academic studies show a massive decline in interest and enthusiasm related to school work. Everything else is so much more engaging. We are still learning through reading and regurgitating.

A younger generation doesn’t trust advertising or media as much as they do peer-to-peer opinions and social networks.

Net Geners workplace needs – speed, freedom, openness, innovation, mobility, authenticity, and playfulness

They are on a quest for “newness”

It’s a new day…Leadership models are changing, marketing changes, delivery methods are changing…..we keep trying to “keep up with the cultural changes, but what we are really addressing are cultural symptoms. We end up a day late and a dollar short. We HAVE to innovate not only our delivery methods, but also our developmental methods. We are missing it right now as a church culture. We all have websites. Many of us have Myspace or Facebook pages, but we are failing in our attempts to be “relevant” to our culture because we have failed to understand the changes that have taken place. We are trying to lead and grow from an old model that has already begun failing us.

If the N-Generation doesn’t trust advertising or media then they probably don’t trust leadership…and they probably don’t trust the church.

It’s been interesting to watch the Grassley investigation unfold. There are those in the Christian Community who want to know why more Christians aren’t outraged and screaming out against it. Maybe, just maybe there is lack of trust in todays church. Maybe, deep down people aren’t crying out against the investigation because, while they want the allegations to be untrue, maybe they think they COULD be true.

As a side note, I have worked with Joyce Meyer on a couple of occasions and I will be shocked if anything comes out negative on her. My experience with her organization has been that they try to make sure everything is above the bar in all areas of their ministry. She really just wants to reach people. The others that were on the list and made public I do not have experience with so I will refrain from commenting on them.

We can become upset over this fact OR we can understand that this is where this generation is. This is how they think and feel. What we need to do is figure out how to connect with them. Take away all the smoke and mirrors and give them something authentic to look at. We all talk about being an authentic church, and while WE talk about it…what are the people outside our staff really saying? Do they see us as authentic or do they wonder if it’s all real?

Here is the thing about your brand….it’s not what you say it is….it’s what THEY say it is. What do the people walking in the door have to say about you? What do the people NOT walking in the door say about you?

Again, we are missing it. Once things go well we think we have it figured out. The toughest thing for any team to navigate is success. Success makes you forgive things that would otherwise be sins.

What we end up doing is that we think we have stumbled on to a magic formula and that anything we say or do will be successful. We quit paying attention to the thing that got us there in the first place. For many of us, we have forgotten about our customer. Yes, that’s right the customer. Every time someone comes in the church, tithes, engages with you online, etc… they are saying yes to you and no to someone/something else. We have forgotten our passion and why we got involved in the church in the first place.

What does all this mean in the grand scheme of things? I think I have more questions than answers, which is to say I don't know that I know right now, but it certainly provides some great things to think about....