Church Leader...is your training plan of “my team will read and follow directions” valid? Let us not try to rationalize…it is not. Training is not just reading. I like the Collins Dictionary definition, British usage:
“the process of bringing a person, etc, to an agreed standard of proficiency, etc, by practice and instruction”.
So, let’s unpack the key terms: Process, Agreed Standard, Practice and Instruction.
- Process - As the word implies, it is a method that has a definable and observable method. A beginning, middle, and end. We do not hand the keys to our 16-year-old and say, “Be careful, don’t wreck” and expect that they will be competent drivers. Some people may have (looking at you Dallas), but if we want our kiddos to be safe drivers we follow the process of drivers education. It has a beginning (written materials), a middle (practice driving with those that are trained), and an end (final testing at the DMV). At any time in the process, you may have to camp out a bit longer or review.
- Agreed Standard - This one is big. You remember “the Dress”? (now we have "the Shoes"). We can disagree on what color something is, even when we read the description, so how easy is it to have different views on what a “standard” is? This is when reading becomes part of training…write down what the successful completion of a task looks like. Show it to your team and let them refer to it when they want to know if they have done it correctly. If you are leading a team, there is no excuse for you not to put in the extra effort to define your standards. "Training provides the foundation for the results of what we do."
- Practice and Instruction - Now you need to teach and observe. Teach them what you want, observe the progress, correct and re-train as necessary. This is an ongoing process…but not a process without end. If you have someone that simply cannot achieve the agreed standard, you then have a choice. You can change (lower) the standard to their level of capability, or you can change the team member. Sometimes the most gracious act we can do is let underperforming team members go sooner rather than later. It is not easy, but as leaders it is part of what we are expected to do.
Training provides the foundation for the results of what we do. If you are getting less than stellar results, it is because your training is lacking. I find that there is a great deal of truth in a quote that is attributed to the Greek soldier Archilochus, circa 650 B.C:
“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training.”
Let me ask a few questions:
- Do you want a team that performs consistently, but are not sure how to proceed?
- Are you confident that your team knows the RIGHT things that need to be done?
- Have you invested in your team with the right training….so you are doing the RIGHT things RIGHT?
Those questions and many more are critical to ask and answer, and exactly why we developed our SUSTAIN services. We can assist you in developing a “best-in-class” training program that will ensure that you are being a good steward of your resources. Your team can be equipped to handle everything from cleaning to preventive maintenance tasks.
In everything, remember the reason for what we do:
“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men” (Col 3:23 HCSB)
Does your training program meet your expectation of something that you are proud to do in His name? We are here to partner with you, how can we help?
Are you...
- Spending too much on utilities?
- Investing enough to keep up with the natural rate of deterioration?
- Properly staffing for your facility needs? If you can not answer these definitively, then you need more information. To that end, we have developed this FREE Church Facility Evaluator. This simple tool will provide you with a snapshot of some key indicators associated with facility operational costs. *Click the image below to learn more.
