SC Synod RCI 2 - 7 Practices

Make The Shift:Seven Things That Will Change How You Work Together : 

Make The Shift:Seven Things That Will Change How You Work Together South Carolina Synod RCI 2 October 2010

Consumable => Renewable Approach to Life & Work : 

SHIFT Consumable => Renewable Approach to Life & Work People are disposable => Life Sucking => Purposelessness => Scarcity-mindset => People feel used up => Self-centered => Focused on BHAGS => Unsustainable => Finite => People are valuable Life Giving Purposefulness Abundance-mindset People feel use-ful Other-centered Focused on NOW Sustainable Replenishable

Our theology isn’t helping. : 

Our theology isn’t helping. God creates the church through the Holy Spirit The People of God proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ God gives the Holy Spirit, who produces Faith in people …until the kingdom comes!

Where are you captive to the consumable model? : 

Where are you captive to the consumable model? Have you ever felt pressured to beat the competition with better goods and services? Do you see yourself in partnership with your neighbor…or are they something to be conquered or converted? Give examples. What is the bottom line in the organization you serve (really)? What makes you say that? When new people do come do you “size them up” to figure out which of your programs is most likely to keep them around?

Recent ELCA LIFT survey results : 

Recent ELCA LIFT survey results Competition from culture ( Sports, Media. Retail, etc.) is listed by laity and pastors as one of the key reasons the church is in decline Competition from other congregations: 31% of laity feel this led to decline in the church. 35% of pastors said this was a major factor!

Leaders THEN: : 

Leaders THEN: “The Great Man Theory” Thomas Carlyle – Scottish philosopher Premise – history is driven by the actions of great people. Without these great people, nothing would move forward (they are in charge) Use “Command and Control” in order to accomplish Coordination & Communication “The Great Man Theory”

What One Pastor Said (recently): : 

What One Pastor Said (recently): “You as the council have to give and that begins by realizing that the office of the pastor means something in the Lutheran tradition and I am the pastor of this congregation. I have authority that they do not and I am called to discern vision for the spiritual life and direction of the congregation and that is just the way it is, whether they like it or not.”

Making the Shift : 

Making the Shift Open leadership is “having the confidence and humility to give up the need to be in control while inspiring commitment from people to accomplish goals.” Charlene Li, Open Leadership, Josey-Bass, 2010.

What does this mean for the way we do church together? : 

What does this mean for the way we do church together?

Renewable Leadership Practices : 

Renewable Leadership Practices Asking purposeful questions Using participative processes Working playfully Taking place seriously Being reproductive Seeing possibilities Igniting passion

Don’t be fooled. : 

Don’t be fooled. These seven practices look very different in a renewable organization than they do in a consumable one.

Asking Purposeful Questions : 

Asking Purposeful Questions Renewable Leadership Practice #1

What’s the difference between a good question and a purposeful one? : 

What’s the difference between a good question and a purposeful one?

A Good Question can help people… : 

A Good Question can help people… Work out necessary logistics; Consider new possibilities; Reflect on unintended consequences; Get more creative; Look at things from different angles; Think twice. A GOOD QUESTION IS ONLY “GOOD” IN THE CONTEXT OF A PURPOSEFUL ONE

A purposeful question gets to the heart of things. : 

A purposeful question gets to the heart of things.

Good Purposeful : 

Good Purposeful Who? What? Where? How? And maybe…why not?

Some Examples of Purposeful Questions : 

Some Examples of Purposeful Questions Why are we doing this? Why aren’t we doing that? Is what we’re doing connected to who we are and what really matters to us? Are we doing what matters to us --- to our neighbors --- to God?

But, particularly in faith-based organizations… : 

But, particularly in faith-based organizations… Your purpose is derived from what God is up to in the world, esp. in your context; You can’t think about your own purpose without thinking first about God’s mission to reconcile the whole creation and set people free.

Some examples for faith-based groups : 

Some examples for faith-based groups What in the world is God up to…and how can we help?! What is making God smile that I can be a part of? What is breaking God’s heart (and ours) and what can we do about it? What is God asking of us? What has God given us to work with?

Using Participative Processes : 

Using Participative Processes Renewable Leadership Practice #2

What IS a participative process? : 

What IS a participative process? A Definition

What is a Participative Process? : 

What is a Participative Process? Participative processes are those in which people, regardless of status within the organization, influence the outcome of the process (and not just have a chance to contribute).

There is a range of decision-making processes : 

There is a range of decision-making processes

3 Tools to Create Effective Participative Processes : 

3 Tools to Create Effective Participative Processes

Tool #1 - Parellelism : 

Tool #1 - Parellelism The ability for group members to exchange information simultaneously.

Use lots of flip chart paper. : 

Use lots of flip chart paper.

Invest in sticky notes. : 

Invest in sticky notes.

Give people a chance to write their thoughts down before they talk. : 

Give people a chance to write their thoughts down before they talk.

Consider using online technology. : 

Consider using online technology.

Tool #2 - Anonymity : 

Tool #2 - Anonymity Enables participants to make contributions without attaching their names.

Anonymity is especially important when… : 

Anonymity is especially important when… The physical “space” parallelism provides isn’t enough because… People are afraid their contributions will produce negative reactions… Especially because they contradict the leaders’ views… And there is the perception (or reality) of a big power differential. Otherwise, not so much.

Tool #3 - Memory : 

Tool #3 - Memory All comments are public, saved, and stored for later use.

The whole group needs to own the memory of what they’ve done. : 

The whole group needs to own the memory of what they’ve done.

Save stuff. : 

Save stuff. Flip chart papers Sticky notes Emails Working documents Everything you’ve produced until your process is over. And put it on display each time you get together to work.

Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning.- Warren Bennis : 

Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning.- Warren Bennis

When Do We Use These Best? : 

When Do We Use These Best? Do we need: maximum motivation and energy, unleashed creativity, deeper and/or more widespread commitment, the best ideas, passion that leads to action? Are we willing to risk: a slower decision-making process, moving in unexpected directions, not getting your way? Are we willing to manage: creative chaos, potential conflict, the big mouth in the room ? If YES continue If YES continue If YES Participative Processes will get you the best outcomes

Work Playfully : 

Work Playfully Renewable Leadership Practice #3

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." : 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." George Bernard ShawIrish Author

Slide 39: 

Stop being so serious and you might actually get something serious done.

3 Tools For Serious Play : 

3 Tools For Serious Play Playful exploration Playful building Role play Tim Brown, IDEO

Some Ways to Work Playfully : 

Some Ways to Work Playfully Build things – models that clarify what we think is most important Draw – individual drawings and share or group drawings together Cook a meal and talk while you work and eat together Go to a baseball game and work only between innings (great planning environment) Use some of the great things available for cultivating teamwork that’s creative and fin (Lego, Tinkertoys, finger paints, etc.) Break into smaller groups to make space for everyone to get involved – then come back and share The options are endless! Don’t be afraind to try something “stupid” and see what happens!

Some Ways to Play at Work : 

Some Ways to Play at Work Have toys available Do some things backwards Get outside Change clothes – wear a funny hat, etc. Reward people with little prizes Compete ) not too seriously) Include humor, jokes, etc. Build friendships at work Turn tasks into games

Tim Brown on Ted.com : 

Tim Brown on Ted.com

Taking Place Seriously : 

Taking Place Seriously

Taking Place Seriously : 

Taking Place Seriously In a consumable organization you “read your audience” in order to create products your neighbors will buy (or buy into). In a renewable organization you engage your neighbors for the sake of co-creating a future with them. You have to know your neighbors in order to engage them!

What This is NOT : 

What This is NOT This is not: A chance to “read your audience” A chance to determine the best target market for your organization An effort to create needs that don’t exist in order to create a desire for your services Finding the “bulls eye” that will make you relevant

Scripture:The Good Samaritan : 

Scripture:The Good Samaritan Reading the Audience asks the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” Taking Place Seriously asks the Jesus question, “Who am I/we called to be neighbor to?”

Here’s How Many of Us Do This(we hope our audience will “read us”) : 

Here’s How Many of Us Do This(we hope our audience will “read us”)

Tic-Tac-Toe(Who do you know?) : 

Tic-Tac-Toe(Who do you know?) X Who live in the 8 closest homes, Work in the 8 closest businesses, Work in the 8 closest parallel organizations?

Some Questions to Ask : 

Some Questions to Ask What do you appreciate most about this community? What are the best things that are happening here? Who is doing them? What would make this a better place to live and work? What kind of things are you involved in? What kind of things might excite you enough to get involved?

“and to the ends of the earth…” Acts 1:8 : 

“and to the ends of the earth…” Acts 1:8 Taking Place Seriously starts close to home It doesn’t end there!

Being Reproductive : 

Being Reproductive

Being Reproductive : 

Being Reproductive In a consumable organization you clone yourself. In a renewable organization you pass on DNA that allows people to be who they are and see what they have for the sake of doing what matters. Who are you curious about and how can you get started today?

Reproduction is about: : 

Reproduction is about: Helping people Be who they are See what they have Do what matters (to both them and God) Freeing them to act and influence others to act Passing on the DNA of a renewable organization so that people work in ways that do this as well. Teaches processes and capacity building and not just job skills.

Being Reproductive : 

Being Reproductive My wife Marlene and I have a son named Nathan Nathan spent the last year in Germany Over the summer I was asked more than once whether he would be a pastor. He is a freshman in college and has started to study photography and graphic design and web design at Robert Morris University. ARE Managing Partners (photo by Nathan Daubert)

Being ReproductiveGetting Started : 

Being ReproductiveGetting Started Name Qualities/Skills I Notice

Seeing Possibilities : 

Seeing Possibilities

Seeing Possibilities : 

Seeing Possibilities In a consumable organization you establish BHAGs (big, hairy, audacious goals) and work hard to pursue them. In a renewable organization you see options for significance now, do the ones that seem engaging and helpful, and pursue where the outcomes take you. Don’t be afraid to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly in every situation.

Ways to Encourage Seeing Possibilities : 

Ways to Encourage Seeing Possibilities Avoid two-pole thinking (right and wrong answer) Brainstorming longer Lack of imagination is common so keep pressing – the first answers are, by definition, rarely creative but they are obvious. Creative ideas often take longer.

A key difference in an emergent way of working : 

A key difference in an emergent way of working You do not always know how things will turn out If you are following God and doing what is significant then you act faithfully and FOLLOW the outcomes The emergent results form the basis for the next steps (whatever they may be) A KEY PART OF SEEING POSSIBILITIES IS TRYING THINGS!

Igniting Passion : 

Igniting Passion

Igniting Passion : 

Igniting Passion In a consumable organization you get everybody excited about your vision (and manage in a way that keeps them focused on it). In a renewable organization you know the greatest force to move you forward together is love (for each other, your neighbor and your common purpose).

Passion = “to love enough to suffer for the sake of the other” : 

Passion = “to love enough to suffer for the sake of the other” Passion comes from the Latin “pascha” – to suffer Paschal candles and the Passion of Christ give us insights – they remind us that there are some things where love is so deep we would suffer Igniting passion is about LOVE – the kind of love the God has for the world. What/who do you love like God loves? How can you help others find what they love and help them offer themselves in a way that matters, too?

Igniting Passion : 

Igniting Passion Helping people grow in love and in their desire for that love to be lived out in tangible and meaningful ways. Setting people free to do it!

Igniting Passion Questions : 

Igniting Passion Questions What breaks your heart about the people/world around you that you think God weeps over as well? What is making God smile that excites you, too? Do you love the people you work with and for whom your organization exists? Do they love each other?

Renewable Leadership Practices : 

Renewable Leadership Practices Asking purposeful questions Using participative processes Working playfully Taking place seriously Being reproductive Seeing possibilities Igniting passion

Slide 67: 

There are booklets on 5 of these 7 practices Recorded webinars allow you to dig deeper into the first three of these practices – each with one hour session plus a study guide.

For More information & help: : 

For More information & help: www.ARenewalEnterprise.com Ddaubert@ARenewalEnterprise.com Or BobMachamer@earthlink.net © 2008, A Renewal Enterprise, Inc. All rights reserved.