Making the Most of MeetingsHow to turn talk into action.Kevin A. Miller| Topics: | Church board, Committees, Leadership, Management, Meetings, Planning, Priorities, Time |
| Filters: | Church board, Church staff, Deacon, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor |
| Purpose: | Discipleship |
| References: | Proverbs 3:5 , Proverbs 16:3, Ephesians 5:15 |
| Date Added: | July 12, 2007 |
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How much time do we have to make a decision? Some items can be decided quickly. But if the issue is controversial or packed with emotion, I won't call for a decision in one meeting. Instead, I'll say, "We're not going to make a final decision today. We're just going to talk it through, raise as many questions as we can, and see what we still need to learn. Then at our next meeting or the one after, we'll make a final decision." That calms people and keeps them from feeling rushed to judgment. Yes, I'm highly committed to taking action, but I won't do that until the group is ready. It's okay occasionally for your action step to be, "Decide at our next meeting."
Do you care about me? Most meetings involve people who see each other only rarely. They don't know each other well, and that hampers the group. So it pays to hang around afterward, building relationships. I might also bring a snack, schedule a fun-only social time, or move the meeting from a stuffy conference room to a more comfortable location. When people know they're cared for, they work with, rather than against, the group.
Kevin A. Miller is vice president of Resources for Christianity Today International and editor at large for Leadership journal.
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