If you own a Mac computer, you know that there is a menu bar at the very top of every screen. What you may not know is that it took the Apple team twenty different menu bar design changes before Steve Jobs was happy with it. The menu bar actually went through so many changes that the team eventually went to the CEO to tell him that the process was getting completely ridiculous. Jobs immediately fired back by saying:
Can you imagine looking at that everyday? It’s not just a little thing, it’s something we have to do right.
Ministry is also certainly something worth doing right. Unfortunately, many churches still operate with a week to week mindset of just trying to make it through another Sunday. Eventually leaders get comfortable with being in full sprint mode. When churches choose to function at a frantic pace (it is a choice), details start getting overlooked. Sadly, once a detail is forgotten; weeks or even months can go by before it is ever noticed.
It is very easy for churches to overlook the following details:
The appearance of their stage.
It’s shocking to see so many production teams unaware of blown bulbs and cluttered and crowded stages. Now is a great time to do an audit of your stage. How is the lighting? Are cords neat and organized? Do any components need to be repaired or replaced? What can be removed?
The urgency of staying current.
Even large churches tend to forget to remove completed events on their websites. Who on your team is looking at this on a weekly or even daily basis? Outdated information makes churches look sloppy. Review your communication systems and conduct a regular audit of what is being communicated on the web, social media and in print pieces.
The visibility of their website.
Most churches have a website and at one time SEO was probably a topic of discussion. Central Campuses usually do pretty well in web searches but it’s easy to forget about SEO when additional campuses are opened. Launching a brand new campus requires a tremendous amount of time and energy.
Once a website is created, the focus tends to gravitate towards other priorities. Guess what? People still do searches for local churches in their community. It would probably be a wise decision to find out where every single campus currently ranks in Google searches. You may be surprised. Is it time to purchase a Google ad? Maybe you need some Adwords or positive reviews for your site so that your church can be bumped up in searches.
The importance of closing the loop.
Churches never seem to be lacking when it comes to new ideas. Failing to follow-up on small details can be a downfall for many teams. A great idea is generated and as momentum builds important details are forgotten. Are you connecting ideas into detailed next steps? Who is responsible for measuring the execution process? Who on the team follows up until every single action item is completed?
T.S. Elliot once said, “In innovation, new ideas are only part of the equation. Execution is just as important.” Someone has to sign the contract…someone has to call the volunteer…someone has to approve the project before the deadline runs out.
The need for communicating the “why.”
For years, I’ve watched leaders clearly explain to teams “what” needs to be accomplished. Clear action items are explained, deadlines are developed and responsibilities are assigned. Good leaders manage projects but great leaders share the “why.” This is a detail that cannot be forgotten. Very few churches can clearly articulate why they do what they do. Why does your church exist? Why should volunteers on the team jump out of bed early on a cold, rainy Sunday morning to park cars? Why should staff take time to have meaningful conversations with people in the crowd? Why should people give? Failing to share this detail with staff and volunteers is a mistake you can’t afford to make.
The impact of sharing wins.
This detail is frequently overlooked. Imagine how ridiculous it would be for an NFL team to work all year long to make it to the championship game. They win the Superbowl, walk off the field, get into their cars and drive home. No one on the team ever brings up the win. The players never read about it and they completely put it out of their minds until the next season begins. This may sound silly but churches do it all the time. Teams are doing incredible things every single week that are completely ignored. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate your weekly meeting agendas. Are you setting aside time to celebrate wins? How are you sharing stories of life change? Do you focus more on what went wrong or what’s right?
Letting these details slide for a long period of time will get you stuck. What other details tend to get overlooked at your church?
