Growth Plateaus, Competence, iPhones and Poking

Here are some highlights from blogger world and my brain from the last few days.

• Penelope Trunk has 10 Tips for the New Workplace Etiquette including, "Forget the exit interview."
• The Creative Pastors blog recently featured a very informative Q&A with Ed Young on encouraging staff to take breaks, growth plateaus, altar calls and working with volunteers.
• I absolutely can’t wait for football season to start.
• David Foster is in a blogging winning streak. Here’s another great list of how nonreligious people view a service experience.
• I think it was Bill Hybels who originally encouraged us to consider character, chemistry and competence when it comes to hiring staff. Of the three, I used to think I could take someone with character and chemistry and work around competence. I’m learning, though, that as the church grows, competence can’t be overlooked…and it’s harder to find. Michael McKinney takes an interesting look at the importance of competence.
• Tim Sanders has a solid post on how we treat our staff (and volunteers). Don’t wear out your people.
• My cell phone is better than an iPhone. I can actually change my own battery.
• I’ve added 13 of my favorite "songs to blog by" to my music playlist on Facebook. You can listen to the entire playlist if you become my Facebook friend. If you do, please don’t "poke" me.