Creativity, Ideas, Sticky Messages and Shoes
I’m going to be busy all day today. I’m meeting with a group of ten guys that are joining me for my coaching network here in Anderson. Today we’re going to be discussing staffing and structure. Should be a fun day of conversation and learning for all of us.
Since I’m going to be focused on that group today, I thought I’d let others handle the blogging. Here’s a bunch of links that have been stacking up in my Google Reader “starred items” folder. Check these out:
- Mark Batterson has a great post on church marketing. I agree with him. But, I’m also committed to encouraging you to take the “Churches Should Stop Marketing” challenge. Hoping to write out my thoughts this weekend.
- Corey shares his thoughts on how to be creative. “I ask questions. Good questions get good answers.”
- metacool has a post on designing sticky messages. Check out the political ad designed for NASCAR country.
- ChurchCrunch shares about open office space and coworking. Hope the concept works. My team is committed to that office environment.
- David wrote about the “7 Kinds of Pastors I’d Run From.” I’m afraid I’ve met some of these pastors.
- Jan shared her thoughts on the power of an idea. ” Among other things, it will “give you courage to do things you’d never otherwise do.”
- Wired acknowledged that GenXers are online and have money. “They’re mature adults, they’ve got real jobs and salaries and stuff.”
- Anne is challenging us to buy shoes. They’re trying to get 50,000 pairs in 50 days. Maybe some GenXers will help out.
Are you going to post-mortem blog about your meeting? would love to hear about it.
Tony- regarding “open office” space planning. It works great PART of the time and for SOME of the people. I think the best use of space is likely the least efficient in terms of persons per square foot- have an intimate mix of private (enclosed with a real door and walls to the ceiling) spaces opening into a common space, allowing people to move freely from one to the other as their individual and group needs vary during the day.
I am one of those people who needs the discipline of going to work and who needs personal interaction and regular feedback from my co-workers, but who is sometimes easily distracted and needs to be able to close the door to be productive when it comes crunch time. I think ideas grow best in a group, but when people are working on their piece of the puzzle, they often need a distraction-free environment to work in.
Of course, the realities of space budgets are usually going to dictate you will have one or the other- space is hugely expensive, and the productivity advantages had to measure. The short-term advantage is you can build to fit the team you have now; the problem comes when the team and it’s needs change in ten years- then we get to build all over again. Of course, unless we don’t have the budget to do that and are stuck with a space that no longer fits.
Of course, Jesus never said it was going to be easy.
thanks much for the link love!
Open offices don’t work for everyone, in every situation. For the CommTeam at NewSpring, it works. We thrive. We get stuff done. For other folks, proximity is an invitation to interrupt and a productivity killer.
You have to figure out what works for your team and go with it, not try to force people into a set-up they won’t thrive in.
A great list of links. Thanks for including me!