Sundays are whiplash.
There are emotions everywhere on a Sunday because we are passionate about creating great experiences for people to engage our Creator. Most of us get the privledge of working with volunteer teams in order to create these environments. Since we are responsible for creating great and creative church services it is our job to champion and critique everything…but our words carry a lot of weight.
When we choose to engage conversations is important.
When we get to thank someone do it … NOW
When we get to brag on a person or a team do it … NOW
When we can highlight something great do it … NOW
When we have to make a correction … WAIT
When we have to engage in a hard conversation … WAIT
When we need to coach through something major … WAIT
When we need to encourage someone do it … NOW
The WHEN is as important as the WHAT. How we approach individuals and teams inside the emotion of a Sunday will impact how they respond for the rest of the day. This will set a tone. We need to think before we speak. Use wisdom. Sundays are for bragging on our teams and Mondays are for correcting, coaching, and redirecting for the next service. Do the work before Sunday and remember that in the moment the best we can do is be a champion..
A great reminder for me to champion my people more often…thanks, man!
Yes and Yes – timing is everything, we call it “managing the pause”.
Specifically, waiting for the emotionally charged moment to pass, triaging the info and decoding how urgent the delivery must be. The majority of the time I think the urgency I feel to engage is more about me and my needs, and not about the best interests of the team member needing input. Rarely am I sorry I waited. Also, I find people often know when they missed the mark, and are already doing a number on themselves by way of self evaluation. By the time I get to talk improvement opportunities it’s more about encouragement, and less about course correction.
Team encouragement is a must – in the context of relationship. Otherwise it can feel insincere.
I really like that, “managing the pause”. I may have to use that one haha. By the way, great reply. I too can get caught up in the ‘passion’ and ’emotion’ and do or say smoething too soon while not realizing the best thing I could’ve done was waited for better timing in that situation.
I need to hear this and live this. Every creative leader who works with a team could do this better and better. Brewster thanks for the reminder.