It seems that the later I stay up at night, the earlier I wake up the next morning. Unfair? Oh, and housekeeping didn't leave any sugar with the coffee supplies, so what is a girl to do??
I laid in bed awake for a bit this morning, thinking more about the passion situation, but my mind seemed to jump around, finally landing on a conversation I had with the girls yesterday afternoon about ultrasound technology (it was germane, I promise). I considered how amazing this technique is: a small tool, sends out sound-waves, listens for their return, then interprets the pattern in which they return in order to develop an overall picture. Ultrasounds are used in so many ways these days - to show mom and dad the first picture of their unborn baby, to help doctors identify and diagnose organ problems.
It didn't take me long to look at this metaphorically - a tool that sends out sound-waves, listens, interprets... And just as I thought "If only I had a tool that..." I knew what tool I do have that does this: Right, Wrong, Missing, Confusing.
We began using this tool over a year ago to help us review Sundays at Creekside. We all brought our honest feedback, and we solicited feedback from others - particularly visitors and newcomers - and then listened to what we went "right" or "wrong", and what was "missing" or "confusing". Since we've implemented it, this tool has helped us:
*identify & appreciate volunteers who go out of their way to serve.
*identify consistency issues in various ministries.
*be better aware of the things we say on stage.
*ensure that the first-time guest experience is positive.
I'm a big fan of this tool, and I've seen it used to review our community groups model, and I've even applied it in team settings with our Kids Ministry leaders, which has helped us improve specific programs. A few weeks ago, Don began encouraging us to use it with our teams weekly. At first, I couldn't fathom how that would work, but it's starting to come together in my mind as a weekly email that opens the dialogue, giving people a channel to send me their feedback. I'm sure I won't agree with them 100%, but that's okay by me - I really want to hear it, because I want to see our ministry grow stronger.
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