Lasting Impression Teams - We exist to create a welcoming experience thru serving with excellence

Yesterday I attended a leadership development session put on by my employer. Sharp holds these sessions 3 times per year for supervisors and above. At every session we have a guest speaker to motivate and/or reinforce one of the principles that Sharp stands for. Charles "Chic" Thompson was the guest speaker.
Chic spoke on innovation - finding ways to creatively turn a negative into a positive, and to tap into our creative side to problem solve. We always receive "homework" after these sessions. We have to complete a project to help "hardwire" the new ideas presented into our day to day work. I should have been taking notes for that, however, I found myself jotting down ideas to apply to LIT and also to the upcoming Leadership Summit.

These were my take aways that got me thinking about Journey:
1. Things to engage the left or creative side of my brain - wear my watch on the other wrist, use my computer mouse with the other hand (I already do this for carpal tunnel reasons), listen to a new radio station, flip through a magazine you would never subscribe to - backwards, and drive to work a completely different way.
2. If you need to write a vision statement - engage the creative side by putting together a collage of pictures from magazines, then write the statement after studying the pictures. Could this help LIT create their statements?
3. If you need to "sell" and idea - always have your "elevator talk" ready. This is essentially a commercial about yourself and your passions - you never know who you may encounter in an elevator! Use the 4 word Hollywood pitch - Minute Clinic's slogan is "Your sick, we're quick". Or if I said what movie do you think of if I said "Flashdance with a guy"? (Dirty Dancing) By just using 4 words you get a point across quickly and efficiently. But to do so takes creativity.
4. Think in opposites - the great reversal. Ask yourself "what would I never do?" then flip that "never" into a really cool idea.

It was this last point that really got me thinking about the Summit and LIT. Chic was talking about things you should start doing and things you should stop doing. His slide was an example of a room with 4 large post-its (one on each wall) you or your team was to brainstorm things to do, things to stop doing, things you would never do, and things you are doing right now. I thought this would be an interesting way to set up our conference rooms for those teams who gather together after the sessions to talk about what they got out of the sessions. It might also be useful in brainstorming new ways to take our teams to a higher level.

Another example he used was of an entrepreneur that started a company called Cereality, "Where it's Saturday morning every day". This is a cereal bar where for about $3.99 you can have any type of cereal you want for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here is someone thinking out of the (cereal) box, because someone told him it would "never" work. It's now franchising across the country.

My favorite exercise yesterday was when everyone was asked to brainstorm with the people at your table to create a new road-side experience by combining AAA and Nascar. We were told that when you brainstorm do not think about how much it's going to cost to make the idea work - restrictions like that stifle creativity. Ideas that were tossed around were: paint the tow trucks like Nascars; besides repairing the problem you were called for (flat tie) do a few extras just like a pit crew - add gas, clean the windshield; stay in constant communication with the stranded motorist similar to the way the crewchief talks to the driver.

Our all day session ended with something I "never" thought my employer would do - we enjoyed a cocktail reception! It was Sharp's thank you and congratulations for receiving the Baldridge Award.
Basically, being innovative is all about the experience you create.
Yes, besides working on this post, I did start on my "homework" and used some of these ideas to brainstorm ways to improve our patients' experience at the doctor's office.

Posted in: on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at at 7:38 PM 1 comments  

WARNING - This is a rambling post!
I am sure it isn't hard to guess that with my personality type I like things neat, orderly and predictable. I forgot to read the fine print when I joined God's team that life becomes messy, disorganized and very unpredictable. After receiving an email earlier today, announcing a change that I have been well aware of I began to reflect on how much things have changed since I started serving in 1999.
I went from hiding in the back row on Friday night service (this was tough to do when our attendance back then was about 45 people) to helping usher on Friday nights, to leading Friday nights, to leading 8:30 to now leading the Lasting Impression Teams.
Since assuming the roll of LIT coordinator I have dealt with my share of messes, disorganization and unpredictable events. I wouldn't change it for the world! God has taught me some valuable lessons. (flexibility, grace, passion, friendships) I have also learned some lessons from the person who replaced me.
I met Evonn when she joined the ushers after we held a Ministry Fair to recruit new team members. (I've since forgiven her for mistaking the ushers for greeters) I found her to be an amazing woman. She was juggling family, work and ministry; as well as bravely handing her mom's terminal illness. It was no surprise to me when I told the team that I was moving to a new ministry that within a few weeks Evonn mentioned she was interested in assuming my previous leadership roll with the 8:30 team. Since assuming the 8:30 roll, Evonn has taken the ushers to a new level of excellence!
Our bonding time happened over a true Journey meeting place - Starbucks. As I supported her in her new roll, she was a huge support to me in mine. She continues to remind me that life is chaotic and working with volunteers can be challenging at times. She has always there to pray with and for me and offer encouragement and remind me that change happens.
I am sure she will blog about all she has gone through to come her decision. I tried many things to keep Evonn as part of LIT. (my need to keep things orderly and organized) It wasn't until she asked me to advise her as her friend and not her "boss" that I realized I was selfishly trying to hold her back from what she believes God has planned for her. I am in total support of her next move; I will miss serving with her. (she doesn't know it yet, but I have her signed up to usher at Christmas)
Evonn, thank you for showing me changes are good things. Can't wait to see what changes God does next.

Posted in: on Monday, May 19, 2008 at at 7:19 PM 1 comments  

Tonight most of the LIT leadership gathered at my house to honor and celebrate Rod's birthday. Speaking for myself (it is my blog after all) Rod has inspired and encouraged me and guided my leadership development over the years. I am sure everyone in our group would say similar things about how he has touched our lives. It was a pleasure to honor him tonight.
The team pitched in and purchased an autographed mini-helmet of Danica Patrick. I also included "Nascar for Dummies" since Rod had such a wonderful time the other night watching Nascar with friends.
I know Rod was blessed and had a wonderful time because as he left the house loaded up with left-over Pick Up Stix and lemon cake, he reminded me that I am still older than he is!
Happy Birthday Rod!

Posted in: on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at at 9:32 PM 2 comments  

Some people say when you have a deja vu moment, it means you are traveling the correct path. I have occasionally had a feeling of deja vu, but I really know that I am on the right path when I hear the same "message" from a variety of sources.
This year there have been two very specific times that I have gotten that positive feeling of heading in the right direction. The first occurred during our series on Moses. Ed made several references to the fact that every 40 years was a turning point in Moses' life. During this series, I was reading Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. There were several references in the book to turning points in Moses' life.
Since I had been working through my own issues with this year's birthday (can anyone guess which one this was?) I knew God was using these references to let me know that I should be ready for a shift in my life.
The second reminder came after I finished reading books called Fusion and Chazown. These books got me fired up about putting together a class to teach once or twice a year to all new LIT members what making a lasting impression is all about. I took this as God's way of letting me know what the 40 year shift might be in my life. The reason this would be a HUGE shift in my life is that I am extremely introverted and to stand up in front of people and speak/teach would be a great stretch of my comfort zone.
It's good to know that I am traveling the right path as I continue to processing the info from the books, as well as journaling and putting together a vision/mission/purpose statement of what this class might look like.

Posted in: on Monday, May 12, 2008 at at 6:58 PM 0 comments  

Last weekend I had the opportunity to be at Journey attending all three services. Some may have considered me "stuck" there as I was overseeing registration for the upcoming Leadership Summit. I found it to be an opportunity to learn people's stories. Ed had mentioned this as a point in that week's message - Lead Where You Are, part 2.
I had the chance to learn stories from David - a fellow leader who recently had a major (and shocking) change in his employment; Angelica - a guest services volunteer who is training for the upcoming Rock 'n Roll marathon; and Gail - a volunteer who keeps our cafe running so smooth, also had a major employment change.
I was also blessed with the opportunity to interact with many guests, answering questions and directing them to where they needed to go.
In the coming weeks, there will be a few more opportunities to be "stuck" at church overseeing registrations - I look forward to learning more stories.

Posted in: on at at 6:49 PM 0 comments