Leadership Through Love - (Chapter 10) "Meetings – Time Manager or Time Waster?" (Steve Martin)

Chapter 10

Meetings – Time Manager or Time Waster?

- Do you really need all those meetings?
- Group or One-On-One?
- Why morning and mid-week?
- Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors"

As the administrator, office manager, administrative assistant, or leader of any size group, have you ever thought of how many hours you have spent in administrative meetings with more than two people? I am sure I have spent more time in meetings than was really necessary.

There are some leaders who just love meetings. They met to discuss the day, the week, the month, the year, and then meet next week to do the same thing. Seems at times that there is more “talk” than “walk”, as meetings consume our time. Though we think we are wisely planning, we may in reality be wasting each others time.

I am not a “meeting” person. (Bet you couldn’t tell!) When given the option of meeting in a larger group, I have more often chosen to communicate one on one than having a group sit around a rectangular board room table talk about things that were talked about last time, and nothing much has happened in between.

Being one who enjoys history, and reading of leaders and their habits, it seems to me that the “modern” executive or leader in the office setting has swung the pendulum too far to the “MEETING” side in communicating. Of course we don’t have all the minutes and details of communications from ages gone by, but I would have to think that more was done “outside of the meeting room” than what occurred within.

Meetings do have a purpose. When discussions need to involve more than two people, due to the responsibilities of each, then of course meetings are necessary. There are certain criteria that I have followed which has helped me in having a good meeting when it was needed.

The first criteria I have had in place is to set the beginning and the ending time of the meeting, so there is no needless dragging on and endless talk, leading nowhere. If you give people more than hour for a meeting, you can almost be assured that they will let the time fill up as allowed.

Most meetings can be accomplished in a half hour. The one calling the meeting needs to have some discussion topics sent to each one coming to the meeting ahead of time. Then each one can gather their thoughts and give them at the appropriate time. Time allowed for discussion between individuals needs to included in the meeting timeline.

As people become accustomed to the shorten time frame, the dialogue is more kept to the topic and thus unnecessary talk is limited. With each knowing ahead of time what will be covered, they had time prior to the gathering to formulate their input, rather than attempting to do it during the time together.

Morning meetings are more preferred than the afternoon time, especially avoided the time right after lunch. Peoples minds are more alert in the mid-morning time than the mid-afternoon. And do you know one of the rather unexpected results of shorter , morning meetings? Drowsiness is curtailed to a minimum! (I had been known to “dream prophetic dreams” during long, boring meetings, especially in the afternoon!)

I also believe that a mid-week meeting is more productive than certainly a Monday or Friday meeting. Weekends, meant to be a “break” for most workers, has now become two of the most busy days in the lives of the typical worker, and thus the weekend off is taking more of a toll on people. No Sabbath time for the typical worker these days is taking its predicted cost. Even many Christians, and especially the administrators and assistants in the church positions, are especially taxed over the weekend, with the one Sunday, and often two, church meetings, and other church gatherings that typically take place on the Saturday or Sunday “day off”..

One on one times with individual staff members not only gets more accomplished with the quality time, but the staff member has more of an opportunity to share their real thoughts, desires, and feedback more honestly. Without the pressure of having to, or wanting to, impress co-workers in a group meeting, they can express their thoughts and feelings more directly to their supervisor. It also prevents the one or two dominant personalities from overtaking a meeting.

Proverbs 24:6 states “By wise counsel…in the multitude of counselors.” I apply this verse not only in my spiritual life, but also in the business of ministry. Surrounding yourself with good staff, who have different gifts and skills than what you as the administrator has, not only makes good business sense, but also lets you hear the mind of the Lord when needing to make those everyday, and also critical decisions.

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.  Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Israel. 

You can bless this ministry work now, through: Online PayPal gifts

You can also send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134      

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com 

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People       

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com         

Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Note: To read the Intro, Chapter Listings and first nine chapters, please use the Search Box in the top right hand corner of this Blog, and enter "Leadership Through Love." Be blessed in your reading!

Leadership Through Love

Chapter Listings

1.      A Gift for His Purposes

- The Early Years

- On the job training

2.      Use the Tools You Have, But Not the Staff

- Treasure the people, while digging the foundations

- Do unto them as you would…

- Bless and curse not: honor those who serve with you

3.      Right Man (or Woman!) for the Job

- All are created equal – make the most of this!

- If the Shoe Fits, Have Them Wear It

4.      Train and Let Loose

- It IS Who You Know and Are Known By

- Hire To Complement Your Strengths

- if you are weak, then they are strong

- Outsource as needed

5.      Burn Candles At Both Ends? – NOT!

- Rest and Sabbath Days

- Mornings with the Lord

- Trust in Him at all times

- We all are given 24 hours each day

6.       The Visionaries Need You!

-          They dream it - you make it happen

-          It takes a team

-          Head Won’t Get Far without the Neck

(or heads will roll)

  

7.      Field Trips and More!

- Staff Retreats

- Party Time!

- Birthdays and BBQs

- After Hours

8.      It Doesn’t All Depend On You

- The Lord is the Rock – Not You

- Whose strength  - yours or His?

   - Key Staff to Lean On

    - Trustworthy managers and assistants

9.      Practically Speaking…and Walking

- Handle each piece of paper once

- File so you can find it!

- Early morning – before the others come

- Take a Break

10.  Meetings – Time-manger or Time-waster?

- Do you really need all those meetings?

- Group or One-On-One?

- Why Morning and Mid-Week?

 - Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors

11.  Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways

- Heart of Thankfulness

- Heart of Worship

- Heart of Service

12.  Another Man’s Vineyard

-          Follow & help fulfill their vision

-          Faithful with another’s

-          Learn and growth until your time

-          The proper way of moving on

Leadership Through Love - (Chapter 9) - "Practically Speaking…and Walking" (Steve Martin)

Chapter 9 - Practically Speaking…and Walking

   Handle each piece of paper once

    - File so you can find it!

   Early morning – before the others come

   Take a Break

Every job has some tools that can be applied, and some guidelines and methods that help do a good work. Over the 33 years of management with businesses and ministries, there are some helpful methods that have worked for me, and which I’d like to pass onto you.

From time to time I felt it helpful to attend “day seminars”, to learn any possible new thing. One that proved to be very beneficial, and made it worth the $99 paid back in the early ‘80’s, was this: handle a piece of paper once.

How many stacks of paper do you currently have on your desk? How many file folders do you have, in the two-drawer or four-drawer filing cabinets? How many times have you picked up the same irritating piece of paper, that you just didn’t want to deal with, and then put it back in the stack to pick it up again the next hour, or the next day or week?

A former office desk of mine (2008)

After one seminar, where the spokesman had given a list of helpful, daily “To DO” items, one I actually tried to master was this: handle a piece of paper once.

I had heard that it takes 90 days to learn a regular discipline, and so I tried this one, determined to “pay for” that $99 investment. Beginning the next day at the office, I picked up a piece of paper that had been sitting on my desk, and I did one of several things:

1. I marked the date I received it, with my initials.
2. I wrote what action I was going to take with it – file, call, or write a response.
3. I did what I wrote I was going to do – I made the call, wrote the response, and filed it in a paper folder for the file cabinet.

If I needed to retrieve it later, I knew what file folder I had placed it in, and I didn’t have to look through the stack of papers still on my desk, in several piles.

As I went through my stacks, I did the same thing – mark date received, action taken, file away for later retrieval as needed. My stacks began to shrink in size, and the daily pressure I had often previously, when I arrived at my desk and looked at the stacks, lessened.

                               The "Wall of Friends" in my office (2008)

In association with this, I am big on filing. But not only to file, but to know where you filed it in order to get it, when you need it. It doesn’t do a whole lot of good to file documents away and then not be able to find them. It is critical that the hanging file folders, and the computer data folders, are labeled in such a way that you know under what label you put it.

On several occasions, there may be several choices under which to file a certain piece of information. In this case, I learned to think which category would I first think it would make sense to file it under, and so I did. Just as a library has more than one listing for a different book, you may also need to do this, just in case you forget which file you used.

When you have someone process your daily mail, I have found it most helpful to use two colored file folders. One is marked “Priority Mail” (I like a green folder for this) and the other, of another color, is marked “Misc. Mail”.  The personal letters, cards, and invoices from vendors go into this folder, while advertising, appeal letters, and such are put in the other folder. Magazines and catalogs are not placed in either folder. I can view them quickly, placing half immediately in the garbage can, along with the other junk mail.

When you have time to only look through some of the mail, it is the green “Priority Mail” folder that you will know to grab first.

Every administrator knows that interruptions are a daily occurrence, and that we just need to expect them. No matter how well you set up appointments, schedule daily or weekly tasks, or arrange meetings to administrate upcoming events, there are always interruptions that seem to take preference over anything else.

To offset ongoing, daily “fires” that needed putting out, I began coming into the office at least an hour before the other staff members. Just having that extra hour gave me needed time to get my day in order as best I could, or to complete a task that didn’t get done the day before. As much as you can, as the administrator of the business or ministry you work with, try to book these times where you know that it would be a major event to get you away from this “quiet, get it done” time. Even make it known to others ahead of time, that unless the church is burning down, you need uninterrupted time to yourself. For me, this is first thing in the morning.

The credenza in my former office (2008)

-used for filing and other things!

During the day, take breaks too! If much of your work is performed at the desk on the computer, then you need to take breaks by just getting up, walking to greet the others, or see how things are going on in other locations other than your room. Just moving from one spot to another can clear your head, give you a chance to think about other things, or simply to stretch. Too much concentration on one subject in one sitting made me too weary to give it what I needed. A short break helped the blood flow a bit better, to get back to the task at hand.

(Hey, and for what I paid for the $99 day above, look what you just saved by reading this instead. This chapter was worth the price of the book alone!)

Ahava ("love" in Hebrew) and shalom!

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.  Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. 

You can bless this ministry work now, through: Online PayPal gifts

You can also send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134      

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com 

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People       

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com         

Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Note: To read the Intro, Chapter Listings and first eight chapters, please use the Search Box in the top right hand corner of this Blog, and enter "Leadership Through Love." Be blessed in your reading!

Leadership Through Love

Chapter Listings

1.      A Gift for His Purposes

- The Early Years

- On the job training

2.      Use the Tools You Have, But Not the Staff

- Treasure the people, while digging the foundations

- Do unto them as you would…

- Bless and curse not: honor those who serve with you

3.      Right Man (or Woman!) for the Job

- All are created equal – make the most of this!

- If the Shoe Fits, Have Them Wear It

4.      Train and Let Loose

- It IS Who You Know and Are Known By

- Hire To Complement Your Strengths

- if you are weak, then they are strong

- Outsource as needed

5.      Burn Candles At Both Ends? – NOT!

- Rest and Sabbath Days

- Mornings with the Lord

- Trust in Him at all times

- We all are given 24 hours each day

6.       The Visionaries Need You!

-          They dream it - you make it happen

-          It takes a team

-          Head Won’t Get Far without the Neck

(or heads will roll)

  

7.      Field Trips and More!

- Staff Retreats

- Party Time!

- Birthdays and BBQs

- After Hours

8.      It Doesn’t All Depend On You

- The Lord is the Rock – Not You

- Whose strength  - yours or His?

   - Key Staff to Lean On

    - Trustworthy managers and assistants

9.      Practically Speaking…and Walking

- Handle each piece of paper once

- File so you can find it!

- Early morning – before the others come

- Take a Break

10.  Meetings – Time-manger or Time-waster?

- Do you really need all those meetings?

- Group or One-On-One?

- Why Morning and Mid-Week?

 - Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors

11.  Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways

- Heart of Thankfulness

- Heart of Worship

- Heart of Service

12.  Another Man’s Vineyard

-          Follow & help fulfill their vision

-          Faithful with another’s

-          Learn and growth until your time

-          The proper way of moving on

Leadership Through Love - Chapter 8 - "It Doesn't All Depend On You" (Steve Martin)

Chapter 8

It Doesn’t All Depend On You

There was a time, as I was nearing 30, that I told myself that I could do it all, that I really didn’t need anyone to help me raise a family, take care of a house, fix the car, or need others to get a job done at the office. I soon found out that I was wrong!

Not only did I need the counsel of parents, friends, pastors and others who could and would speak into my life, but I needed staff members in order to get the right job done on time, and in good order. Above all, the Lord spoke to me on a very specific occasion, to let me know that I needed others. Certain things weren’t going to get done only by me, and He didn’t want it to be that way, anyway. I needed others.

During my service with a ministry, one of the staff I had with me decided to move back to Florida, from where he had come a few years earlier. He had become my right hand man, very capable of doing things alongside me, with us working very well together. I had depended on him for much.

I had a choice to make – to hire another to take his place, or go back and do those things which I had done myself before he had come on staff to help. In order to save the ministry money, with less payroll costs, I was going to take the road I normally took, which was to try and do it all myself. I was going to continue on without another in that place, saving money, but burning myself out in the process.

If ever I heard the voice of the Lord, it sure was then! As I walked to the back room of the converted home-to-office setup, to prepare another product order for shipment, I clearly heard the Holy Spirit speak to my spirit. “If you go backwards, you will never go forwards.” I knew exactly what He was talking about!

He certainly was telling me, that as the administrator, it was my place to hire another person, take the time to train them, and continue on doing what I was gifted and given to do. If I chose to not hire someone, I would be stuck doing those tasks that others could be doing, and should be doing. That would have kept me from not only doing what I was supposed to be doing, and should be doing, but I would be the one to “pay the price” in personal wear and tear in my life, and of those around me.

As with any part of the body, both in the natural body and the church spiritually body, we each have specific parts of the body that were created to do certain functions. If each part isn’t doing its intended function, the whole body has to compensate, resulting in disorder or more strain on the rest of the body.

For example, if a hand tries to compensate for a foot that isn’t there, or the foot is not able to function properly, then the hand is prevented from doing its proper role, as it tries to “replace” the foot by doing the foot’s role. In all practically it simply can’t. The body will end up moving in an awkward way, trying to compensate for the part that is lacking, or isn’t capable of doing.

And so I obeyed the Lord and hired a replacement. After taking the extra time to train him, even though in the short run it took more time, in the long run he filled the hole very well, and I was able to continue doing the responsibilities that I needed, and only could, do. The new man did the shipping and mail runs while I did the accounting and the purchasing. Each of us was doing our part. The church was built up and strengthened because he was there to do his job, and I was again able to do mine. The Lord blessed us both in the work.

As the workload of the office expanded, I needed to know when to hire on, and when to have the current staff press a bit more, to do the extra required during the current period of increase. I also had to hear the voice of the Lord and others who could bring advice as needed. Are the tasks at hand to be done a short time task, or would this build into something for the long term? Did we hire for part time, full time, or use contract services? What are the costs of the additional benefits going to cost, for medical insurance, vacation and sick time, and paid holidays? These are ongoing questions that the administrator has to answer on a regular basis quite often.

Different criteria have helped me when making this decision. I consider the annual costs the new staff addition would be, and weigh that against the benefit they would add to the growth of the office. If the current staff is working at full production level, and no one else can be asked to work longer hours, then the need presses itself to be taken care of sooner rather than later. If another project or outreach is added to the overall work of the office, then certainly another staff member would be the reasonable answer to bring the desires of the leadership to fruition.

Another consideration needing to be reviewed is whether this is a direct income-producing job. If the additional staff will encourage income to come in as a result of the tasks they perform, then it is. A new assistant on the phones won’t outright increase funds, but their taking a load off another, who then can produce more written work or phone calling, will add to the overall bottom line. The stress level of the entire staff is also kept at a reasonable level.

Keep the heart beating. 

Don't burst a valve doing it all yourself.

As you slowly build your staff, growing as the church, ministry or business increases, this gives new employees the opportunity to add their talents to the crew. The administrator becomes more of a “quarterback”, directing the flow of paperwork, production levels, and advancement, rather than doing the tasks that others can and should do.

What then depends on you is to keep seeking the Holy Spirit, to hear His voice, and trust in His guidance day by day. As things do flow and ebb, the administrator needs to know when to push in some areas, back off in others, and keep the staff alert to the ongoing overall work needing to be accomplished.

During the slower or seasonal times, tasks to prepare for the upcoming busy season need to be done in advance. The good administrator will keep his eyes looking forward to the days ahead, planning today what needs to happen tomorrow, rather than just waiting for fires to be put out or until the “push to deliver” gets too strong.

As you grow, you need to be looking for those who have the gifting and desire to become leaders on the team, who can learn more directly from you. As you yourself grow in responsibilities and commitments, you will need those who can give direction and guidance in areas that you release them into, that you formerly covered. Do not fear giving responsibility, and also the authority, to others, to get jobs done.

If you were to continue to believe that only you can do it, the day will come when the tasks assigned to your control have grown too big, and too overwhelming, and by then you better have others in place to take on some of your former tasks.

I have seen those in administrative positions who fear giving someone part of their work, lacking trust, or going on past experiences when they have passed on work. As administrators, we need to entrust to others responsibilities, or else the work is bottle necked with us, which slows, or stops, the work flow of others.

It does not all depend on us. If we are faithful to work diligently, the work will grow, and others will be added to do the work alongside us. We need to be willing and trusting to let others be added, take on tasks that we did well, and actually excel beyond what we had taken the previous level to.

Insecurity is one area we need to be aware of, which can keep us from allowing others to succeed. There have been times when I have seen leaders keep things in their control, not wanting to release responsibilities, with authority, due to their own insecurities. Being jealous of a subordinate for certain gifts that they excel at, while holding onto their territory, has many times kept leaders from allowing the ministry or business to grow.

If we allow the Lord to give us His security in our areas of expertise, and acknowledge that others have areas that they will excel in, then we are free to give room for others to grow, and even surpass the work we could have done.

One area that I particularly liked working in was setting up book stores and gift shops with the three ministries I have worked for, whether at a conference setting or in the office building itself. I felt I had a good way of laying out the tables, arranging the product, and having good traffic flow for the crowd. I prided myself on how well I felt I did this, and appreciated hearing the good comments from staff and customers.

Shalom Inspirations gift shop

- one of those I set up.

In time, as others came on staff, and I listened to their ideas regarding the layouts, I found they could do it just as well as I could. In order to let them “take ownership” also, I needed to step out of the way and let them. I knew it was time to “pass the baton”, to see them grow in their gifting and skill level. It was important for me to release this area I did well in, into the hands of others who came behind me.

I also knew that they would have different ideas and methods than I did or would, and I needed to give them the room to try these out. I could add my thoughts, but I needed to give them plenty of room to do their thing.

As I did this, in this area and in others, new leadership was raised up, and new doors were then opened to me. I was secure in the Lord to pass this responsibility on, knowing that He could entrust other works into my hands. If I had held onto this “cup”, I wouldn’t have received the next larger one He had in store for me.

Leadership is raised up as the current leaders give those coming behind them room to make mistakes, and take control themselves over time. This keeps progress advancing, and growth is apparent as new ideas and procedures are put in place.

It doesn’t all depend on you. Let them come and grow with you.

Ahava ("love" in Hebrew) and shalom!

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.  Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. 

You can bless this ministry work now, through: Online PayPal gifts

You can also send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134      

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com 

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People       

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com         

Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Note: To read the Intro, Chapter Listings and first seven chapters, please use the Search Box in the top right hand corner of this Blog, and enter "Leadership Through Love." Be blessed in your reading!

Leadership Through Love

Chapter Listings

1.      A Gift for His Purposes

- The Early Years

- On the job training

2.      Use the Tools You Have, But Not the Staff

- Treasure the people, while digging the foundations

- Do unto them as you would…

- Bless and curse not: honor those who serve with you

3.      Right Man (or Woman!) for the Job

- All are created equal – make the most of this!

- If the Shoe Fits, Have Them Wear It

4.      Train and Let Loose

- It IS Who You Know and Are Known By

- Hire To Complement Your Strengths

- if you are weak, then they are strong

- Outsource as needed

5.      Burn Candles At Both Ends? – NOT!

- Rest and Sabbath Days

- Mornings with the Lord

- Trust in Him at all times

- We all are given 24 hours each day

6.       The Visionaries Need You!

-          They dream it - you make it happen

-          It takes a team

-          Head Won’t Get Far without the Neck

(or heads will roll)

  

7.      Field Trips and More!

- Staff Retreats

- Party Time!

- Birthdays and BBQs

- After Hours

8.      It Doesn’t All Depend On You

- The Lord is the Rock – Not You

- Whose strength  - yours or His?

   - Key Staff to Lean On

    - Trustworthy managers and assistants

9.      Practically Speaking…and Walking

- Handle each piece of paper once

- File so you can find it!

- Early morning – before the others come

- Take a Break

10.  Meetings – Time-manger or Time-waster?

- Do you really need all those meetings?

- Group or One-On-One?

- Why Morning and Mid-Week?

 - Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors

11.  Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways

- Heart of Thankfulness

- Heart of Worship

- Heart of Service

12.  Another Man’s Vineyard

-          Follow & help fulfill their vision

-          Faithful with another’s

-          Learn and growth until your time

-          The proper way of moving on

Leadership Through Love - Chapter 7 - "Field Trips & More!" (Steve Martin)

Chapter 7

Field Trips & More!

 - Enjoying Staff Events

- Staff Retreats

- Party Time!

      - Birthdays and BBQs

      - After Hours

Staff are often called upon to make events happen, such as the church picnic, the business expo, or the ministry conference. That is part of the job requirements, and understood by all. But serving others makes one desire, and need, a break once in awhile, to just relax and “hang out”. Just as in families, once a big event has come and gone, the staff needs some down time, apart from the “regular job duties”, to enjoy one another and continue to build good relationships. 

Coming from a large family, I appreciate the opportunities we had, and have, to be with one another, where one is not expected to have to “perform”.

Louis & Lila Martin family

- plus the almost full tribe of eight! 

(One yet to come...) 1968 in Cedar Falls, Iowa

Being one who enjoys having a good time, and wanting to see others involved as much as they desire, I saw to it that each staff I was blessed with had times of being together apart from the daily routine or the big event. I realized the importance of having a good time, when the pressures of the daily work or weekend schedule for church weren’t pushing hard.

For the monthly birthdays, we made it a point to celebrate these special days in the life of the accountant, the shipping supervisor, the custodian, the editor, or the receptionist. Having all the employees gather in the lunch room, my assistant and I had a birthday cake, ice cream, and sometimes balloons and other decorations ready to bless those whose birthday it was that month. 

This makes each individual know that they are indeed special and important, and not just someone sitting in the chair getting the job done.

Vision for Israel - partial staff - birthday party 2009

(L-R) Steve, Jodie Goodman, Indira & Edgar Persad

A specially made #24 birthday cake 

at the office for #55! (2009)

Once a year, we would try to schedule a staff retreat, out of town, for two days and nights. Usually this was after the annual conference, or some other event that had required extra effort and time. Going to a mountain retreat lodge, or a resort where all the food and recreation coordination was done by someone other than our own, was always a much appreciated time together.

Being able to gather after office hours, on a weekend or weekday night, gives employees the chance to appreciate each one even more, with an evening baseball or basketball game, racing event at the track, or a good band playing at the food gathering.

Whether the expense is covered by the business, church or ministry, or each pays separately, the staff see this extra care shown by the administrator and other leaders that the whole person is important, in addition to being the one on staff who gets the job done. It is interesting to hear what people say and do when “not on the job”. It can be a very positive addition to the ongoing relationships that are important to maintaining good relationships in the office.

Kevin Grafton, co-worker 

- Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation (Mendota, IL 1977-1980)

and Vision for Israel (Charlotte, NC 2001-2004)

Grill-Master on both jobs!

Another bonding time that is fun to do is to have summer cookouts during the work week day. It seems that each staff has a “grill master” on board, who likes to show off his home crafted skills on the gas grill. Give him or her that opportunity!

Buying either store prepared food, or having each one bring a dish from home, helps create an “at ease” break during the work day. And it makes a good lunch too!

I know the Lord knew the importance of getting His team away from the daily routine, as He would take them apart from time to time. A time to be refreshed, to “recharge the batteries” is important in the business life as well. Just having time to stop doing the normal routine will help keep people desiring to give their best throughout the year.

Planning staff events ahead of time gives people the opportunity to look ahead, to anticipate the time out with the others. As we all like adventure and to get “of the beaten path” sometimes, give the staff these opportunities throughout the year.

Ahava ("love" in Hebrew) and shalom!

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. 

You can bless this ministry work now, through: Online PayPal gifts

You can also send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134      

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Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.  Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Note: To read the Intro, Chapter Listings and first six chapters, please use the Search Box in the top right hand corner of this Blog, and enter "Leadership Through Love." Be blessed in your reading!

Leadership Through Love

Chapter Listings

1.      A Gift for His Purposes

- The Early Years

- On the job training

2.      Use the Tools You Have, But Not the Staff

- Treasure the people, while digging the foundations

- Do unto them as you would…

- Bless and curse not: honor those who serve with you

3.      Right Man (or Woman!) for the Job

- All are created equal – make the most of this!

- If the Shoe Fits, Have Them Wear It

4.      Train and Let Loose

- It IS Who You Know and Are Known By

- Hire To Complement Your Strengths

- if you are weak, then they are strong

- Outsource as needed

5.      Burn Candles At Both Ends? – NOT!

- Rest and Sabbath Days

- Mornings with the Lord

- Trust in Him at all times

- We all are given 24 hours each day

6.       The Visionaries Need You!

-          They dream it - you make it happen

-          It takes a team

-          Head Won’t Get Far without the Neck

(or heads will roll)

  

7.      Field Trips and More!

- Staff Retreats

- Party Time!

- Birthdays and BBQs

- After Hours

8.      It Doesn’t All Depend On You

- The Lord is the Rock – Not You

- Whose strength  - yours or His?

   - Key Staff to Lean On

    - Trustworthy managers and assistants

9.      Practically Speaking…and Walking

- Handle each piece of paper once

- File so you can find it!

- Early morning – before the others come

- Take a Break

10.  Meetings – Time-manger or Time-waster?

- Do you really need all those meetings?

- Group or One-On-One?

- Why Morning and Mid-Week?

 - Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors

11.  Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways

- Heart of Thankfulness

- Heart of Worship

- Heart of Service

12.  Another Man’s Vineyard

-          Follow & help fulfill their vision

-          Faithful with another’s

-          Learn and growth until your time

-          The proper way of moving on