10 keys to better and more successful meetings (Post #18)

Meetings are a place for communicating vision, assigning and assessing action items, creating plans, and improving processes.  It goes without saying that meetings are an irreplaceable part of your ministry's success; however, they can also be very unproductive, draining, and void of purpose. ​

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Fact:  if you want a successful ministry, company, organization, team, and (brace yourself) even family; then you’re going to have to conduct successful meetings.  Meetings are a place for communicating vision, assigning and assessing action items, creating plans, and improving processes.  It goes without saying that meetings are an irreplaceable part of your ministry's success; however, they can also be very unproductive, draining, and void of purpose.  This happens when our meetings miss the mark and mission. 
 
There are several factors that can cause meetings to miss the mark and mission.  However, for this blog post, we’ll focus on meeting composition.  I believe that on a general level there are a few things that a successful ministry meeting (or any meeting) must have in order to be successful.  So, if you’re interested, I’ve created a list of 10 things that your ministry meeting must include in order to be a success. 

• Start with Joy & Jesus:  Meetings are like anything in life, the attitude that you bring to the table will undoubtedly determine your success.  If you act like you’re defeated, then defeat will soon follow.  I recommend starting every meeting with a joyous spirit & prayer.  Pray for the meeting, your staff, and your mission.
• Mission & Vision Reinforcement:  You should take advantage of every opportunity you have to remind your team of their mission and vision.  The mission is your purpose and the vision is your goal.  Why do you exist? And, where would you like to be?  Successful mission & vision sharing is achieved when every person in your organization can accurately account for both.
• Become concerned with your Teams well-being:  While you serve people, please NEVER forget that you’re WORKING with people as well.  Know them.  Ask about them.  How are they doing?  How are their families?  Make notes of their responses and follow up with their concerns as time goes on.  Caring for your team is just as important as caring for your task.
• Celebrate the Success:  Keep the party going.  If you’ve had any mission success since your last gathering, make celebratory mention of that.  Note the success, acknowledge the key players, and say “thank you.”  This creates an atmosphere for excellence.
• Status of Mission & Vision Execution:  Honesty time.  So, we know why we exist and where we’d like to be, now here’s the big question.  How are we performing in relation to these known facts?  Are we performing in such a way that our mission and vision are both being fulfilled?  If we are, how can we be better?  If not, then you’ll move to the next point. 
• Assess the Deficiencies & Note Improvement Points:  Here is where you mix planning and participation.  In relation to your ministry’s deficiencies, you should certainly plan first.  In other words, you should first establish a list of your own thoughts, concerning things that your team could improve.  However, before you reveal your list, brainstorm.  Ask your team, how can “we” fix our deficiencies?  Include them in the process and use your list to guide the discussion.  Their inclusion creates “buy-in” and your guidance ensures direction.
• Establish “ownership” of action items (Follow-Up on Prior Items):  Here is the part that we often miss.  Sure, everyone is inspired by the talks of solutions; however, absent ownership, the talks are just that, talk.  Ensure that your action items are assigned.  Knowledge of your team and their talents will aid in this process.  As you make your assignments, ensure to note that you’re giving them these task based on their capabilities and abilities. 
• Upcoming Events (Task Oriented, Congregational, and Recreation):  Avoid being reactive and become proactive.  Take some time and note the upcoming events and tasks that are important to and for your team in the next 3 to 5 months.  Begin to assign prep task for these events, to avoid “last-minute” issues. 
• End with Jesus as the Focus:  Your success belongs to Jesus!  Thank Him for it in advance. 
• Prayer Request & Prayer Circles:    This is very important.  This is the part where we increase our connection.  Ensure you’re hand-in-hand with your team and open the circle for prayer request.  After collection, pray for your team, your task, and your commitment to Christ.

 
So, what did you think?  Was this helpful?  Which point registered with you the most?  What did I miss?  Are you struggling with meeting success?  Which point registered with you the most?  Let me know in the comments below.  Subscribe to the blog and thanks for your support.
 
Imperfectly,
 
Kevin D. Jones, Sr.
(@kevindjonessr)