Effective Church Communications

Effective Church Communications provides Timeless Strategy and Biblical Inspiration to help churches create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission

Effective Church Communications provides Timeless Strategy and a Biblical Perspective to help churches create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission. Our tools constantly change; our task doesn’t; we can help.

Conquer Easter Season time stress, part one

By Leave a Comment

Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss
Ed. note: In the coming weeks before Easter we all feel have far more to do than minutes in the day to get it done. Gayle provides some wonderful help in managing your work and I must admit, helps me feel less guilty for the many articles, ideas, and projects I'm sending your way in the coming weeks.

Everyone says it at one time or another: Help! I need more time to get all my work done.

Bad news. There is no more time. We have all there is; no one can give us more than the 24 hours we already have every day.

A good first step to being more productive is to understand this important principle and begin to see time as the precious resource it is—a resource that cannot be saved up, manipulated or controlled, but can only be used. The goal then is to use it wisely and well. We cannot truly manage time itself, but we can manage our own work habits and behaviors.

• See time as a blessing.
Attitude plays an enormous role in productivity. Start each day thanking God in advance for what the day will bring, for the opportunities it affords, the blessings it holds. Use each minute as a gift; what if you didn’t have this day?

• Plan. Then do.
Unplanned days seldom reach their potential for productivity. Use a few minutes of the last hour of each day to identify your priorities for the next day. After your plans are on paper (or on screen) assemble materials you will need for your most important tasks. Having them ready gives you a jump on the new day.

• Maximize your mornings.
Research suggests that in most offices the first hour of the day is the least productive. How do you start your day? With meaningless rituals or with meaningful tasks?

Track your mornings for the next few days. Don’t make an effort to change anything (yet) but pay particular attention to how you use this most important time. Once you have a true picture of your usual routine, take steps to turn your first hours into more productive ones.

• Follow your plan.
Your written plan is your map for the day. A detour or two can be expected, but do not allow yourself to be pulled off track by nonessentials. Unless you take control over interruptions and distractions you will feel constantly under time pressures. Stay focused. Learn not to interrupt yourself; this practice is epidemic in church offices. Make each day’s journey a pleasant trip, not a survival course.

• Claim your power.
Productive people “own” their time. They do not allow others to fritter their time away. This does not mean the assistant ignores needs or instructions. Far from it. The quality of work increases as she takes responsibility for her time and overcomes any feelings that others have control over how her workday hours will be spent.

• Analyze your day.
No one knows your office and your routine like you do. Scrutinize your schedule: what are the bottlenecks? Where are the timewasters? Who presents what obstacles? What careless habits have cropped up? What patterns emerge?

This objective look at how things are will help you create new and more productive techniques for how things will be. Consider changing the hour of day certain tasks are done. Look for short cuts. Omit any unnecessary tasks; there will be some!

Timely Fundamentals, part two

By Leave a Comment

Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

Ed. notes: last week we shared the first of Gayle's great tips for using our time wisely.  Here is the second part of these very practical little nuggets of wisdom on a topic that we can always learn more about and apply better. 

For the first part of this series, CLICK HERE.

Timely Fundamentals, part two

Looking for a novel technique, an insider secret, a magic solution to create more time? Try these basics for personal effectiveness instead. They are not new, but they do work. You may have heard them before, but do you use them?

  • set priorities
  • stick to your priorities
  • delegate when possible
  • vary routines occasionally
  • arrive on time; leave on time
  • respect and appreciate others
  • respect and appreciate yourself
  • ask for help when needed
  • be willing to help
  • create shortcuts
  • eliminate  what you can
  • unclutter your space
  • see all time as God’s gift

for Part One, CLICK HERE

Timely Fundamentals, part one

By Leave a Comment

Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

Ed. comments: After reading this list of tips, I thought they are like little chocolates. . . . . real treasures to savor bit by bit. Take time and think about each one--I guarantee they'll make a difference and you won't gain an ounce!

Timely Fundamentals, part one

Looking for a novel technique, an insider secret, a magic solution to create more time? Try these basics for personal effectiveness instead. They are not new, but they do work.

You may have heard them before, but do you use them?

  • eat healthy
  • exercise appropriately
  • get sufficient sleep
  • set realistic goals
  • plan before doing
  • organize your space
  • alternate kinds of work
  • avoid distractions
  • take breaks
  • avoid excess chit chat
  • stay out of office politics
  • communicate intelligently
  • use assertive behaviors
  • don’t try to do everything
  • slim down files
  • forget about pleasing everyone

Are We a Team?

By Leave a Comment

Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

All church staffs are not teams.

Teamwork is easy to recognize where it exists, but hard to define where it doesn’t. Ministry assistants are often the first to recognize when teamwork is only a phrase tossed about in staff meetings.

While building teamwork is primarily the responsibility of the executive, an assistant can do much toward promoting a more excellent church office team.

Know what teamwork is.
An appropriate definition is: two or more people moving along a path of interaction toward a common goal.

One is not a team, regardless of how effective that one is. There is no team if there is no forward motion or communication. A staff is not a team if the staff members do not have a shared vision. When even one of these three elements is missing, whatever the group is, it is not a true team.

So, if two or more are working on a project—but not communicating—there is no teamwork. If they are communicating—but not focusing on a common goal—there is no teamwork. Knowing this important principle helps you carry your weight on the team.

Understand team dynamics.
When a church staff works as a team, the sum is more than the parts. My results are not simply added yours but the results of both of us are multiplied.

Operating as a team of two, a pastor and assistant will actually accomplish more than they could by operating independently. Each still focuses on his or her own responsibilities but they share a strong dedication to the work of the church. They demonstrate mutual respect for one another, engage in open and honest communication, have common ministry goals, and actively work toward professional growth.

• Know the staff’s strengths.
In excellent teams, each person has opportunity to use what he or she does best. More time is spent on using strengths than is spent on bemoaning weaknesses. Know what your team members (including volunteers) have to offer in ideas and skills. Give opportunity for them to contribute so the end result is the best it can be.

• Aim for results.
Not many church staff members have a hard time staying busy. Even on the least effective staffs, people put in hours. Energy is exerted—sometimes a great deal—but too often little of value is actually accomplished. It is easy for staffs to fall into the trap of majoring on personal priorities or of having no priorities at all. Results suffer.

• Recognize and use your skills.
What do you bring to the team? So much! You contribute personal qualities, people skills, technical competence, and a vast amount of work-related knowledge.

Think beyond your own responsibilities and tasks. Consider how your efforts fit in with the efforts of other staff members. Use what you know—not only to be a good team member, but to be a team builder as well.

You want the answer to, “Are we a team?” to be an absolute “Yes!”

Being a Better Office Manager, part three

By Leave a Comment

Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

Ed. note: This is the last week of a great series on How to be a Better Office Manager and this week  she concludes with some excellent advice:

As an effective manager, you will:

• Learn all you can about the church, the denomination, office administration, management principles—every subject related to the work of the church office. Use online resources, study written materials, and attend seminars. Study communication and human relations skills.

• Communicate with others. Let your team know your standards for good work and periodically tell them how they are doing. Provide the information people need to do their jobs well. Touch base with them often; be available for questions and suggestions. Include them in decisions concerning issues affecting their work, but realize group decisions are seldom good decisions. Listen; then make the decision alone.

• Involve your team. Delegate. Trust your people with responsibilities. Effective managers do not try to do everything themselves. Turning loose of routine tasks allows you to focus your efforts on the parts of the job only you can do.

• Support your team. Show confidence in them; let them know they can have confidence in you. Pray with and for those you minister with as well as for those you minister to.

Encourage people in their efforts. As a manager you want your team to be willing to try new things. They need to know it is acceptable to make mistakes, or even to fail. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Develop mutual trust and respect. People usually live up to the expectations of others. Expect excellence, not perfection, and show appreciation for your team’s efforts. Go to bat for them for equitable pay and benefits. Be the kind of manager you would like to work with.

____________________________________________________

For the first two parts of this series:

Being a Better Office Manager, part one

Being a Better Office Manager, part two