Short term calm...

Recently I had two areas break down on me. The first was my internet connection. After two days of trying to fix it, we called someone who walked in and had it done in minutes. I was almost mad that it was that easy! But I am glad to have it back. It drove home the point that we come to depend on things like technology (and internet) without meaning to. I found myself at almost a standstill. I had several important emails and other things. In all honesty, I could have logged in somewhere else, but it became a personal challenge to me - one that I lost! I am glad to be back online.

Second, I was forced to face some management mistakes that I have made. Like technology, it is easy to take people for granted, and think things should work a certain way. I have made the mistake of trying to keep feelings from getting hurt, while at the same time maintaining my integrity about what I say. Staff members come to me in confindence about each other, and I have to manage around the issues. The ballance between helping people work through their issues and helping them to avoid pain can be hard. I overcompensated to try and protect feelings. I was wrong. Had I let people have the opportunity to communicate honestly and openly with each other, I could have prevented long term hurt and frustration. My attempts to protect did the opposite. Honesty and integrity go hand in hand, even when they hurt.

What was I thinking?

One of the interesting things I have experienced is the 2 a.m. idea. You may know what I am talking about. It is that incredible plan or concept that magically appears in you mind at 2 a.m., and you are sure it is so good that you will remember it in the normal hours of the next morning. On ocassion, I do remember most if it, but significant parts seem to be missing. The only way it works is if I get out of bed and go to my computer and write.
You may have a better memory than I do - but you have probably had similar experiences. In working on this web site I have the challenge of not being able to do it all myself. I may have a great idea, but I need someone else to make it look right. I am fortunant to have Marcus, whom I recommend to you, that makes it possible. In the field of innovation, we must have people with skills and talents other than the ones we have. While it is very tempting to do all alone, it really takes way from the end product. Who is on you team, and how are you letting them make a real contribution?

Great Book

To tired...

Several years ago I had a conversation with a pastor of a 1500+ member church. The morning schedule was horrible. It didn't allow for many things to be done that really needed to happen. He listed all the great ministries that could happen if the schedule changes were made. He got excited by those innovations and possibilities. It was great to hear a man of God so focused on what the future could hold.

Several months passed and no changes were made. I wondered if he had met resistance from key leaders, or if some other battle had erupted. It turns out that neither was true. He decided that he was just too tired to take on the issues that would come up. It was easire to just fall back in line and do what he had been doing. I'm sure he is not alone. Many leaders face the same temptation each and every day. It is always easier to stay in a rut - and to forgo the battles of innovation. But is comfort worth the price of wondering what you might have been able to do?

Confronting Reality

In the book Confronting Reality Bossidy and Charan make the point over and over aging that when an organization refuses to take an honest look at their reality, they have set themselves up to fail. There are also many realities about keeping an optomistic spirit about the future and what it holds. As an innovatior, how do you balance the need for reality with the need of optomism, and where does faith come in?

Blackberry world?

First of all, I need to confess to being a closet technogeek. The latest and greatest gadgets and programs have always excited me. Years ago, I realized that I no longer had the time (or money) to stay cutting edge. I intentionally stayed away from places and people that would reignite that passion in me. Believe it or not, I only switched to a Palm PDA a couple of years ago! Recently, I decided it was time to get back on top of what is out there in the world of tech. This time, however, I have a different approach. I’m not looking for what’s cutting edge and hot, I am looking for what is effective. Effective covers many ranges, productivity, cost, impact etc., and not all the fun things are truly effective. As a Pastor, I must be a good steward of all that God has provided: time, money and equipment. I recently had the overwhelming desire to buy a Blackberry. After much prayer and looking at my budget, (well, actually the other way around,) I figured out that with a couple of programs and cables I could accomplish many (not all) of the same things for about 10% of the cost of a Blackberry. I must admit, it does not have the cool factor I’d like, but it is effective. Innovation is about using everything we know plus tools and resources to make things happen. Sometimes, it has the cool factor, but most of the time it is more about the very uncool concept of really hard work

Uplink

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to host a great event featuring Stephen Covey, Rudolph Giuliani, and Jack Welch. The chance to have my staff exposed to these great leaders was one that I didn't want to miss. The "in person" event was in Atlanta, a bit too far to travel, and a budget strain. Fortunately LumaCore has taken the initiative to provide a way for groups to hear such speakers in a cost effective manner. All we did was get a DISH uplink and turn on the projector. I have taken groups to large events before, and there are some advantages. But my group found that the ability to have time together to discuss the speakers and their points was very beneficial. I hope that more conferences will give the satellite option to us. As I sat through the even, I was convinced that this technology will change the way churches learn. Even a relatively small church can get the equipment to receive – but it is time for all those churches that host teaching conferences to get them on the air