We are very close to signing the lease for our new location in Agawam and the signing of that lease is going to launch us into a very busy season of ministry so today I want to talk about expectations during this very busy season. I’ve entitled the lesson BEND, NOT BREAK.
If you’ve ever cooked with bamboo skewers you know that they can withstand a moderate amount of applied pressure. But if you apply too much pressure they will first splinter, then break.
Well, you are the bamboo skewer and the season we’re about to enter is going to apply tension and pressure to your life. And you can withstand a moderate amount of applied pressure and be totally fine. But if too much pressure is applied you will first splinter, then break.
Now this especially applies to FT staff. We aren’t increasing the number of hours worked for PT staff because it’s not in the budget but the number of hours worked by FT staff will absolutely increase – perhaps significantly. This is normal and to be expected when launching a new location. The good news is that it’s not a permanent thing. After launch we’ll resume with a more normal work schedule, but leading up to launch, if you’re FT, expect to work a good bit more than you’re working now.
Please know that this is not something we’re expecting from you, but won’t be doing ourselves. The DLT has already made ourselves available on Fridays because we’re now beginning to work with a contractor and we have to be available when they are, which includes Fridays. And just like us, you’ll be expected to work more than usual.
But though you’ll be stretched in this season – and will bend in this season – we don’t want you to break in this season.
So it’s my goal with Andrew, Peter and Jon to do my best to make sure, though they bend, they will not break. Likewise, each of them will do their best to make sure, though you bend, you will not break.
And here’s what we’ve recently decided to help you not break during this extra busy season we’re entering into…
- We’ve canceled the next two nights of prayer and worship.
- We’ve canceled staff luncheons. We will cover any info we would normally cover at the luncheons via Slack or during Monday morning staff meetings.
- We’ve canceled our Summer staff funtivity with plans to resume funtivities come Fall.
- We’re modifying the summer internship. If we merely repeated what we did last year then our summer interns would compete with preparations for the new location. But if we harness them to help with the new location, they will lighten the load, not add to it.
- We’re gonna have PT staff skip Monday morning staff meetings when needed. If it’s an extra busy week we’ll free you up from staff meeting to give you more focused time on preparing for launch.
So do you see? Since we know how much extra work we’ll be adding to your plate leading up to launch, we’re subtracting everywhere we can so that – though you’ll bend in this extra busy season – you won’t break.
Now that’s what we’re doing. Here are some things you can do.
- Cancel what you can. You need to check with your supervisor, but just like the DLT has canceled a number of things, you might be able to do something similar within your department. Again, check with your supervisor, but cancel something if you’re able to and then pick back up after we launch.
- Say no. Requests come in like the tide – and you’re going to need to say no so you don’t break in this new season. Say no to anything – just for this season – that doesn’t relate to helping us launch the new location.
- Don’t tackle new initiatives. You may need to start something new or may need to completely overhaul something in your department. But if possible, wait to do this until after we launch. For example, I know we need to start an official leadership pipeline and a donor development strategy – and though I’m collecting some ideas and taking notes of things I think of – I’m not trying to launch either of those things until after we launch.
- Focus your PD. Make your PD to learn about successfully launching this Fall vs having to learn all this new stuff about launching + some other form of PD. I set out this year to read a book a week and I’m on pace. I’m just now finishing my 21st book of 2023. But this past week I realized that my reading schedule is actually interfering with the PD I need to do to successfully launch this new location. So I’m having to make midcourse adjustments. If similarly, you’ve made an aggressive PD schedule – and none of it relates to multi-site per say, you too might need to make a midcourse correction. If you feel like that’s you, talk to your supervisor and see if it’s ok to make a switch. This will keep you doing PD but help you not break during this busy season.
- Raise up new volunteers. You will have extra responsibilities, and if you will either have to multiply the number of hours worked OR multiply the number of volunteers in your department.
- Take advantage of your time off. Don’t use the weekend or your vacation to do activities that drain you. I don’t want to say “Do this” or “Don’t do that.” It’s not about restricting certain specific activities – it’s about making sure you don’t do stuff that drains the ever loving life out of you and making sure you do activities that bring rest, relaxation and rejuvenation to your body and soul.
Make no mistake about it: In this season that is now upon us we will bend, but if you apply the lesson today you will bend…but not break.
DISCUSSION QUESTION: What specific step(s) do you need to take to ensure you don’t break during this season leading up to launch?