Meeting Tips
Yesterday was a marathon meeting day! I try to schedule the majority of my meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I call them my meeting days. Mondays and Fridays are my focus days. I went eight straight hours yesterday without coming up for a breath.
I love a meeting that has an agenda. That gives a meeting positive energy. A meeting with no agenda? Not so much!
Ever had one of those meetings where you don't have the guts to come right out and ask: why are we meeting? So you play detective and you can't figure it out for the life of you. An hour later you're still clueless. One of the simple lessons I've learned is to try to ascertain the objective of the meeting before the meeting. I came up with that little rule of thumb after a one-hour meeting that culminated in a multi-level marketing opportunity! Not that there is anything wrong with multi-level marketing! I just want to know upfront.
One of the things I wrestle with is this. I tend to be a little more task-oriented than relationship-oriented in the meeting context. If we're meeting to hang out let's play corn hole or go to a game. You know what I'm saying? But during the work day I tend to be in work mode. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Here are a few meeting tips for pastors with busy schedules:
1) Pray for the person before meeting with them--it can turn an ordinary meeting into a divine appointment.
2) Let them know how much time you have upfront--it can avoid misunderstanding and keep you from feeling like you are cutting them off.
3) Get to the point but don't get there too early or two late. If you get there too early it becomes impersonal. If you get there too late you'll have five minutes left to talk about the real issue.
4) Ask lots of Questions--don't try to be an Oracle. Be a sounding board.
5) Remember that your time is the one of the greatest gifts you can give to people. Be wise. Be generous.
I love a meeting that has an agenda. That gives a meeting positive energy. A meeting with no agenda? Not so much!
Ever had one of those meetings where you don't have the guts to come right out and ask: why are we meeting? So you play detective and you can't figure it out for the life of you. An hour later you're still clueless. One of the simple lessons I've learned is to try to ascertain the objective of the meeting before the meeting. I came up with that little rule of thumb after a one-hour meeting that culminated in a multi-level marketing opportunity! Not that there is anything wrong with multi-level marketing! I just want to know upfront.
One of the things I wrestle with is this. I tend to be a little more task-oriented than relationship-oriented in the meeting context. If we're meeting to hang out let's play corn hole or go to a game. You know what I'm saying? But during the work day I tend to be in work mode. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Here are a few meeting tips for pastors with busy schedules:
1) Pray for the person before meeting with them--it can turn an ordinary meeting into a divine appointment.
2) Let them know how much time you have upfront--it can avoid misunderstanding and keep you from feeling like you are cutting them off.
3) Get to the point but don't get there too early or two late. If you get there too early it becomes impersonal. If you get there too late you'll have five minutes left to talk about the real issue.
4) Ask lots of Questions--don't try to be an Oracle. Be a sounding board.
5) Remember that your time is the one of the greatest gifts you can give to people. Be wise. Be generous.
11 Comments:
Man, I know this feeling. The feeling when you realize you've been invited to a multi-level marketing promotional meeting. I actually was asked by one of my friends to come to dinner with him. He hadn't taken me to dinner in three years. I showed up and they wanted me to sale groceries to doctors. The next week, my wife's boss invited us over and tried to get us to sale vacations. What's the deal?
Everyone is way to obsessed with money. Good tips for scheduling meetings for busy pastors. BTW, I picked up your book at EVOLVE and I am enjoying it.
Great stuff, Mark! Thanks for sharing.
great advice, mark. i am the world's worst when it comes to task-orienting meetings. i'm working on it, but i'm definitely still "in progress." i'm going to start using your advice RIGHT NOW! :-)
jay hardwick
jayhardwick.com
I'm in the MLM arena and would NEVER blindside anyone with a meeting, then a sales pitch at the end. I personally only talk to people who have CONTACTED ME for more information. I hope people realize that MLM IS a professional industry and you get out of it what you put into it.
I make a killing but I also worked my knuckles to the bone my first 3 years in the business. I think my phone was permanently attached to my ear.
Not all of us out there in MLM are slimy. I apologize for those people who misrepresent our industry as anything less than professional.
Terry "Deuce" Hartley
Terry,
I knew I better put the disclaimer on there for people like you that do it right :) I try to never throw the baby out with the bathwater!
I think the MLM arena is a little like Christianity. One person who does a poor job at evangelism/sales can give the rest of us a black eye :)
PM
While this is a great post, isn't anyone else curious how Terry got the nickname "Deuce?!?!"
Great post, Mark!
I have come to the conclusion that some of our best Staff Meetings happen around the Breakfast table with no computers, just a pen and paper!
Thanks Mark, Those tips will be helpful to me. I think praying for the person before the meeting is most valuable yet most overlooked. Thanks! Kevin - Jax, Fl
Thanks man. I have really been learning a lot about time and organization. This helps. It was good to see you at the church planting conference. My wife and I both appreciate the faithfulness to your family. Thanks for the story about your son. We are thinking through and praying about starting a church around Chattanooga, TN. Thanks again.
Clayton,
You can click on my name to link to my blog to find the greatest "name" story of all time; of how "The Deuce" has become an icon.....LOL.
I'm Terry Hartley II (the second) hence the name "Deuce". I do have a funny story about it on my blog!
Terry "Deuce" Hartley
Great advice. Praying for the person in advance is great advice. I can think of times when a conversation, or lunch with someone took a turn in another direction and resulted in God-things. Prayer makes us sensitive to those subtle changes in agenda.
Thanks for the good stuff.
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