When I was going for my degree in education… do you know what I learned from my Methods class?
Make sure the custodian, the lunch ladies, and the principal’s assistant love you.
These people may not have been very high on the Organizational Chart, but because of what they did, I learned pretty quickly that it was important to know them. And, if you wanted to get things done, it was even more important to be on good terms with them.
And, for the record, I think this was totally wrong and manipulative. But it has some important truth in it. Some truth we can’t ignore.
When it comes to making decisions or getting things done, we all, I’m sure, know the power of our church’s Organizational Chart: who reports to who, who outranks who… But sometimes that’s not what really matters. Have you ever thought about your church’s “Influence Chart?” They’re both important.
Think about it.
Who are the people who control the space and time of the folks higher up on the Organizational Chart?
Who are the people who have the ear of the higher-ups?
Who are the people your events and weekly environments are dependent upon? (The media team? The custodial team? The food service team?)
Got the names? Now, what’s your relationship like with those people? How have you treated them recently?
Before I go on, let me make a statement. Because, as I’ve already said, I’m not a fan of manipulating people.
I know who these people are in my organization and I have excellent relationships with them. However, I don’t have great relationships with them because I need things from them – I do because they are great people. I consider this to be one of the greatest strengths of my current organization: the character of these key people and their willingness to wield their influence appropriately. (Now, when key people in an organization do not wield their influence or power appropriately, this can be one of the biggest roadblocks to an organization’s growth and health… but that’s a post for another day.)
So what do you do about all of this?
Here’s my advice.
1. TREAT EVERYONE WITH LOVE AND RESPECT. No matter where they fall on the organization chart.
2. IDENTIFY YOUR KEY INFLUENCERS. Who are the people you need to build better relationships and partnerships with?
3. GET OVER YOURSELF.
4. IF YOU GET STUCK… REFER BACK TO #1.